Fromlefttoright:
JenniferHeggland-DirectorofCommunityPrograms
ShariPhillips-CommunityLiaison&RAECCoalitionCoordinator
SantanaWare-TPCCoalitionCoordinator
SabrinaDyer-RAHCCoalitionCoordinator
EricaVyers-RAJCCoalitionCoordinator
BrandySantisteven-TPCCoalitionCoordinator
GracieGray-DFCCoalitionCoordinator
NikkiBowman-AssistantDirectorofCommunityPrograms
REACHCouncilwasaproudsponsoroftheSerenitySpaceatthe Thrive‘25LeadershipSummitonFebruary27th.Wegave participantstheopportunitytodecompress,andfocusonalittle “MentalHealthSelf-Care”byutilizingweightedblankets,heated massagechairs,oceansounds,comfortchocolates,andother variousstressreducingitems.OurREACHteamalsoprovided severalcalmingactivitiesforattendeestoparticipateinsuchas makinga“ZenGarden”totakehome,createartwithwateronthe BuddhaBoard,andcalmingcoloring.
OnMarch28th,FentanylAwareness:ACommunityConversation Lunch&LearnwasheldattheMidlothianConferenceCenterand hostedbyREACHCouncil,REACHAcrossEllisCounty,Midlothian ChamberofCommerce,MidlothianPoliceDepartmentandthe OfficeofJakeEllzey.Parents,educators,businessleaders,and concernedcitizensacrossEllisCountycametohearfromlocal experts,lawenforcement,andcommunityleadersasweconfront therealitiesofFentanyluse,learningtorecognizewarningsigns, andtogainvaluableresourcestokeeptheirfamiliessafe. NaloxoneOverdoseEmergencyKitswereprovidedbyREACH Councilatourresourcetable.
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April26 wastheDEANationalRxTakeBackDay.REACHCouncilhelpedout withtakebacklocationsinMidlothianandWaxahachie.TheMethodist MidlothianMedicalCenterlocationcollected245lbsofexpiredandunused medicationswhiletheWaxahachieColemanJr.Highlocationcollected323 lbs.KBEC(KeepBuildingEllisCounty)RadiodidaLiveRemotefromthe WaxahachielocationofferingparticipantsanopportunitytowinKBECswag.
ThissemesterwecompletedfacilitatingthePositiveActioncurriculum inRedOakISDatRedOakMiddleSchoolaswellasinJoshuaISDat NicholsMiddleschoolandLoflinMiddleSchool.Wealsofinished teachingtheLifeSkillsTrainingcurriculuminMidlothianISDatWalnut GroveMiddleSchool.AdditionallywefacilitatedtheKids’Connection curriculuminMidlothianISDatMcClatchey,Miller,Baxter,Coleman, Irvin,LongbranchandVitovskyElementarySchools,inRedOakISDat SchupmannElementaryandinAlvaradoISDatLillianandAlvarado NorthElementarySchools.
Thisquarter,wealsowrappedupthreeBluesProgramgroups! Studentsexploredpowerfulstrategiestoreframenegativethinking sparkedbyeverydaytriggersanddiscoveredhealthier,more constructivewaystohandledailychallenges.Alongtheway,theybuilt meaningfulconnections,cheeredeachotheron,andcreateda supportive,upliftinggroupatmospherethattrulybroughttheprogram tolife.
Inadditiontocurriculum,ourYPteamkeptbusywithotheractivities andpresentations.WeconductedaVapeEscapeRoomactivity wherestudentslearnedtheeffectsofnicotineandvapingandthen solvepuzzlesandputtogetheranicotine-freemessageto“escape thevape”.WeparticipatedinendoftheschoolyearFieldDay activitiesatseveralelementaryschoolshelpingoutwithvarious stationsthatweresetup.Severalofourstaffalsoconducted presentationsandlunchtableactivitiesatschoolsontopicssuchas establishinghealthyfriendships,howtorefusepeerpressure,and howtohandleemotionslikestressandanger.
OurPro-SocialEventsareregular,organizedeventsdesignedtobring participantstogethertoengageinfunactivitieswiththegoalof creatingpro-socialrelationshipswhileexploringteambuildingskills, copingmechanisms,andcreativitywithouttheuseofsubstances.
Thisspring,YRChostedafamilyEastereventattheREACHCouncil officewherefamilieshadablasteatingtogether,playinggames, doingcrafts,andhuntingEastereggs!Inpreparationforthisevent, YRCparticipantsearnedcommunityservicehoursbydoingsome yardclean-upattheREACHoffice.
Inaddition,wearecontinuingtohostourweeklyTuesdaynight supportgroups,aswellashostinganadditionalmonthlyzoom supportgrouponthelastThursdayofeachmonth.
YRC’ssummereventsareapproaching,wherewewillprovide opportunitiesforourparticipantstoattendweeklypro-socialevents. Wewillalsocontinuetooffersupportgroupsandinformationsession twicemonthlyforthosewhoareneedingextrasupport.
EllisCountyresources cometogethermonthlyat theUniteEllis-Mental Healthworkgroupmeeting tobrainstormand collaboratewaysto improveservicesinEllis County.
REACHAcrossEllisCounty partneredwiththeWaxahachie PoliceDepartmenttoattend theEllisCountyHeartSmart ConferenceattheWaxahachie SeniorCenter.Weshared informationonsafestorage anddisposalofmedications, raffled(two)MedSafeboxes, andcollectedexpiredand unusedmedications.
REACHAcrossEllisCountyandREACHforNicotine-FreeYouth collaboratedwiththeRedOakISDImpactLeadershipTeamtoplana fieldtripday.Thefirstpartofthedayincludedproviding presentationstoRedOakISD6thgradestudentsonthedangersof underagedrinking,andthedangersofusingtobacco,vapesand othernicotineproducts.TheirnextstopwastotheRedOakFireand PoliceDepartmenttothankRedOakFirstRespondersforalltheydo inthecommunity.TheImpactLeadershipTeamgotanupcloseand personallookatthefiretrucksandtheirequipment,aswellasa policeSUVandtheirequipment.TheImpactLeadershipTeammade over100bookmarksthattheydonatedtothecommunitylibrary.The laststopofthedaywasacigarettepickupatWatkinspark.The studentsplacedorangeflagsforeverycigarettebutt,cigarilloor vapetheyfoundaroundthepark.
OnFebruary15th,REACHAcrossHillCountyonceagainjoined forceswiththeHillsboroCityLibrarytocelebratethekickoffoftheir SeedLibrary.Thisinitiativeallowscommunitymembersto exchangeveggieandflowerseedstoencouragehomegardening forstressrelief,foodstability,andmanyotherbenefits!We chattedwithlibrarygoersaswepaintedterracottapots,andeach personleftwithseedpacketstogettheirgardenjumpstarted.
OnMarch10thREACHstaffeducatedstaffandCourtAppointed SpecialAdvocatesofHillCountyonsignsandsymptomsof substancemisuse.
RAHCwenttotheTexascapitol forHillCountyDayonMarch19th. Theyspentthedayhearingthe latestfromlegislatorsincluding District13’sTexasHouse RepresentativeAngeliaOrr alongsideothersfromvarious governmentagenciesincluding theTexasEducationAgency, TexasDepartmentof Transportation,TexasWater DevelopmentBoardandeven theTexasSpaceCommission!It wasagreatdayoflearningand connectionwithHillCounty residentsandrepresentatives.
RAHCvolunteeredwith Hubbard’sChamberof Commercefortheir annualbanquet.Wehad afuneveningandgotto hearaboutthestateof thecityfromHubbard CityManager/PoliceChief JasonPatrick.Wealsogot toknowthenew businessesintownand evensnaggedapicture withTexasHouseRep AngeliaOrr!
RAHCcoalitionmembers AndySanches(Hubbard OneCommunity Administrator)andRussell Barlow(Ownerof13:7 CustomLeatherworking) collaboratedtosetupa foodpantryinsideofthe leathershoptoincrease accesstofoodand promoteeconomic stability.
OnApril12th,RAHCcoalitionmemberReginaJohnsonrepresented usatacommunityeasteregghuntalongsideourpartnersHill’s GeneralStoreandHubbardBarberCo.Wesawover50kidsfrom toddlerstoteens!
OurteamattendedtheCADCA ForuminWashington,D.C., celebratingGracieandErica’s graduationfromtheNational CoalitionAcademy.Whilethere, weparticipatedinCapitolHill dayandmetwithstafffrom CongressmanJakeEllzey’s officetohighlightpressing communityissuesand advocateforthevitalfunding ofprogramslikeREACH.
OnFebruary13thwehostedour quarterlyRiseSocialwitha focusonself-loveand communityconnection.Valerie Hopedeliveredaninspiringtalk ontheimportanceofcultivating self-love,leavingattendees upliftedandempowered. Afterward,participantscame togethertoassemble Valentine’sDaygoodiebagsfor theresidentsofElkCreek AssistedLiving,spreading kindnessandjoythroughoutthe community.
InlateFebruary,severalPromPopUpeventswereheldinBurlesonand Cleburne.Studentshadtheopportunitytoreceivefreepromattireaftergoing toseveraleducationtableswheretheylearnedabouthealthyrelationships, theeffectsofmarijuana,andtheconsequencesofunderagedrinking.
RAJC’sApril17thcoalition meetingatMealsOn WheelsinCleburnehad anexcellentturnout, featuringinsightful discussionson collaboratingforabackto-schooleventin Burlesonandplanning excitingsummeryouth coalitionevents.
REACHAcrossJohnson Countyparticipatedin CleburneISD's MulticulturalFaironMarch 13th,engagingwith numerousfamiliesand fosteringmeaningful connections.
GracieandErica(not pictured)joinedMr.Allard’s Neighborhoodtoshare insightsontheupcoming RiseTogetherSocial-Bloom WhereYouArePlanted.This seriesisdesignedtoreduce socialisolation,foster connectionandemphasize theimportanceofmental well-being.
AlvaradoFireDept.hosted their3rdannualAlvarado CommunitySafetyDay-a fun-filledeveningwith safetytips,livedemos, coolvehicles,familyfriendlyactivitiesincluding facepainting,andfreehot dogs.Stafffromleftto right:Holly,Brandy,Gracie, EricaandNikki(not pictured).
Aprilwasanaction-packedmonthfullofexcitement,impact,and youthleadershipinmotion!We’rethrilledtosharesomeamazing highlightsthatshowcasethepowerofcollaborationandthevoicesof ouryouth.
OnApril13th–14th,ouryouthteamtraveledtoAustinfortheSayWhat! TeenLeadershipSummitandwow,theyshowedupandshowedout! Frombreakoutsessionsonpublicspeakingandprojectplanningto energizers,PSAcreation,andevencrowdcontrol,ourstudentswereall in.TheirPSAonthedangersofvapingisamust-see �� [Clickhere towatchtheYouthPSAReel!]
OnApril15thwejoinedforceswithREACHAcrossEllisCountyandthe RedOakISDImpactLeadershipTeamforajam-packeddayof education,service,andfun.With16piglungpresentationsacrossfour classes,wereached362studentsalongside18Impactyouthleaders. Butthat’snotall wealso:
DeliveredappreciationbasketstoRedOakFire&Police Departments
Touredemergencyvehiclesandequipment
Donated2 ublicLibrary
Wrapped atkinsPark!
Areyousubscribedtoour"REACHingOutWithREACH"podcast? Youcanfindusonmostpodcastplatforms!
REACHCouncilbringsyouinformativecontentfromthefieldofsubstance abusepreventionandrecovery.Tuneinforcurrentdrugtrendinformation, interviewswithsubjectmatterexperts,storiesandtestimonials.
Hereisarecapofourpastfewepisodes:
February-SantanadiscussesArtfulReflectionsanddifferentartisticways toselfreflect.
March-BrandyandSantanaareourTobaccoMythBustersdebunking commonmyths.
April-ForStressAwarenessMonth,Kryslyntalksaboutstressawareness andwaystomanageit.
Clickheretolisten:https://reachcouncil.podbean.com/ DoyouhaveatopicyouwouldlikeREACHtotalkabout ononeofourpodcasts?Pleasesendyourtopicideasto Wendy.Lewis@ReachCouncil.org.
1.Empty toilet rolls
2.Scissors
3.Paint paper
4.Acrylic paints
5.Sharpie
Step 1: Draw petals Step1:Drawpetals
Step3:Dippetalsinpaint andpressontopaper
Step 3: Dip petals in paint and press onto paper
Step2:Cutpetals andbend
Step 2: Cut petals and bend
Step 4: Paint the center yellow Step4:Paintthe centeryellow
