REACH Quarterly Newsletter-January 2023 by REACHCouncil

Prevention: Looking back and looking forward

As we move into the new year and our prevention and recovery teams plan their spring and summer curriculums, programs, and activities, I can’t help but to think about how far the prevention and recovery fields have come in the last 70 years.

If we look back at the history of prevention, we can see how things have changed and shifted as our understanding of the science of substance use, addiction and their impacts on the brain have grown.

In the 1950’s, when drug use intensified and heroin addiction hit an all-time high, and in the 1960’s, when psychedelics became popular and the first Woodstock was held, prevention primarily consisted of scare tactics that were largely ineffective.

"Prevention: Looking back and looking forward" • P. 1, 2, 3 • Youth Prevention Education • P 4 • REACH NEWSLETTER J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 Table

Contents Coalition & Community • P 6, 7, 8, 9 • JoCo Radio • P. 10, 11 • B Y C A S S I E S T R E E T Youth Recovery Communities • P 5 • S T O R Y C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 2 REACH Podcast • P. 12 • Arts & Cafts • P 13 • Fundraising & Sponsors • P 14 • Contact Us • P 15 • www.REACHCouncil.org

Prevention: Looking back and looking forward

In the 1970’s and 80’s, substance misuse was recognized as a public health problem. While these decades are known for the “War on Drugs” and the “Just say No” campaign, championed by Nancy Reagan, prevention efforts began shifting. Prevention efforts became focused on using factual information as well as using curricula to build communication, decision making, social skills and refusal skills in youth.

In the 1990’s and 2000’s, there was a shift towards researching and examining the factors that protect people or put them at greater risk for problems like substance misuse and addiction. Prevention programming began to receive funding to address substance misuse problems in communities. The prevention field as a whole shifted to evaluating programs for effectiveness and utilizing effective evidence-based programs in multiple contexts (families, schools, and communities). Additionally, the focus became using data to drive the decision making processes in the planning and implementation of programs.

S T O R Y C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 1 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 P A G E 2 S T O R Y C O N T I N U E S O N P A G E 3 www.REACHCouncil.org

Prevention: Looking back and looking forward

Today, prevention, treatment and recovery fields work together to address the behavioral health needs of individuals, families and communities. The strategies and interventions utilized in the prevention field are based on data, research and evaluation of effectiveness.

We’ve come a long way from the days of Reefer Madness and “Just Say No”. Understanding the history of prevention helps us address misconceptions of what we do in the prevention field today and where we are headed as a profession and a field. Today, prevention is recognized as being a key to improving health outcomes for communities. At REACH, we work everyday to fulfill our mission to “ encourage and support safe and healthy choices vital to the well-being of our youth, families, and community”.

S T O R Y C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 2

-Nancy Reagan

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 P A G E 3 www.REACHCouncil.org

"Drugs take away the dream from every child's heart and replace it with a nightmare, and it's time we in America stand up and replace those dreams."

Youth Prevention Education

Our YP staff has wrapped up the fall curriculum and will begin spring curriculum at several campuses across Ellis and Johnson Counties.

They will be facilitating LifeSkills Training (LST) at Keene Junior High School. Too Good For Drugs (TGFD) will be conducted at Italy High School, Nichols Middle School, Loflin Middle School, and Walnut Grove Middle School. Kids Connection, a curriculum-based support group (CBSG), will be facilitated at Miller Elementary, Frazier Elementary, Coleman Elementary, Longbranch Elementary, J.A. Vitovsky Elementary, Baxter Elementary, Lillian Elementary, Austin Elementary, Bowie Elementary, and Schupmann Elementary.

We are so excited to have the opportunity to service each of these campuses and look forward to a great spring semester ahead!

www.REACHCouncil.org J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 P A G E 4

Youth Recovery Communities

Start the year with new studying habits! Here are some tips:

Schedule time every day to study

Set a specific time each day for a minimum of thirty minutes. Having a set time means that you are making time for it and you won’t need to squeeze it in. This also helps you create a habit for studying.

Create a study space

Select a space that is free of distractions. Televisions and other people talking can be distracting if you ’ re trying to focus on studying. Our phones can be our biggest distraction! Put your phone on silent mode and keep it away from where you are studying.

Use a planner for assignments

Having a planner for when assignments are due helps you plan ahead so you can turn them in on time.

Keep your laptop charged

Plug your laptop in every night before bed just as you do with your phone so it will always be charged and ready to use.

Take breaks from studying

Sometimes it’s good to step away from what we ’ ve been working on for a few minutes. Grab a snack then get back to it.

Get a good night’s sleep before tests

Our bodies need adequate rest every night, but especially before tests! If our brains aren’t fully rested, we take the risk of oversleeping, not being able to stay awake for the test, or not recalling the test material we previously studied.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it

If the material is hard to understand, ask for help! Ask your parent, another student, or even the teacher. Tutoring may be beneficial to help you better understand the material.

We offer tutoring every Tuesday night after our support group for our participants! If you are interested in joining our program, please reach out to us!

shorturl.at/jPSTW

www.REACHCouncil.org J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 P A G E 5

Coalition & Community

REACH Across Johnson County presented the Burleson ISD Special Education Department with stress relief bags, back massagers and foot rests.

helped

with a promo video for the coalition.

N O V E M B E R

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Pathway Church’s "Crew" youth group RAJC

Coalition & Community

The Alvarado Police Department presented RAJC with a Certificate of Appreciation for National Night Out.

RAJC set up an information booth at Southwestern Adventist University to provide Narcan and quit kits to their students. REACH also provided information on the dangers of Marijuana and Fentanyl.

N O V E M B E R

www.REACHCouncil.org J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 P A G E 7

Coalition & Community

D E C E M B E R

REACH Across Johnson County worked hard to create a float and participated in both Alvarado and Burleson's holiday parades.

www.REACHCouncil.org J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 P A G E 8

Coalition & Community

This spring we will be hosting Prom Pop-Up events in Johnson and Ellis Counties. Be on the lookout for more information!

J A N U A R Y

www.REACHCouncil.org J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 P A G E 9

JoCo Radio

Callie Crow joined us to talk about the dangers of Fentanyl poisoning and the Naloxone training that she does through her program Drews 27 Chains.

shared

to talk to your kids and help them deal with trauma.

Stephanie

shared with us how their program works, and how you can get involved.

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Theresa Thomas and Allison Gross from Wings of Hope shared information about their amazing program that is an available resource to our community. Sarah Herrera with The Healing Collective how Pollard with Alvarado Santa’s Helpers

JoCo Radio

RAJC had a round table discussion on holiday celebrations, non-alcohol drink options, family traditions, and more.

Patty Maggard, President of Johnson County Crime Stoppers, shared how the Crime Stoppers program came to Johnson County, how the program works, and how you can get involved.

Many thanks to Rikia Ancar, M.A.,

and Danielle Jackson of Mind Above Matter for joining us to discuss electronics and our kids' mental health.

www.REACHCouncil.org J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 P A G E 1 1

LMFT

REACH Podcast

Tune in to "REACHing Out With REACH" at https://reachcouncil.podbean.com/ where we will discuss news and topics about things that matter most to us and reflect our mission to "support safe and healthy choices vital to the well-being of our youth, families and community".

Join our staff as they uncover tips on prevention and recovery, and create fun conversations focused on their passions and interests in the prevention and recovery fields.

Make sure you follow us on our social media platforms and subscribe to our podcast streams.

You can tune in via - Google podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn + Alexa, IHeartRadio, PlayerFM, and Samsung.

www.REACHCouncil.org J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 P A G E 1 2

Arts & Crafts Valentine's Day Chex Mix

2 cups Corn Chex cereal

1 cup miniature pretzel twists

2 cups Rice Chex cereal

2 cups Honey Nut (or plain) Cheerios cereal

1 bag of Valentine's M&M's (red, white & pink)

3 1/4 cups white chocolate chips

1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine Corn Chex, pretzel twists, Rice Chex, Cheerios, and 1 cup M&M's. Stir to combine.

3. In a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl, combine 3 cups of white chocolate chips and 1 and 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir for 15 seconds and then microwave another 15 seconds. Stir until melted and smooth. If needed, return to the microwave for a little longer. (Bursts of 15 seconds stirring for 10 seconds in between each burst). Pour the melted and smooth white chocolate over the snack mix.

4. Working quickly, gently stir until all ingredients are coated in white chocolate and then quickly transfer to the prepared baking sheet and spread into one even layer. Immediately add the remaining Valentine's M&Ms on top and optional sprinkles. OPTIONAL STEP: Melt the last 1/4 cup white chocolate chips in the microwave and then transfer them to a small plastic bag. Cut the tip off the bag and pipe stripes across the white chocolate snack mix.

5. Allow white chocolate to harden at room temperature (or place in fridge) for 10-12 minutes. Break into pieces and enjoy!