Red Ribbon Week 2025
Eachyear,RedRibbonWeek (RRW)ishonoredfromOctober 23rd-31st.Whiletosomepeople RRWisjustafunweekofsilly dress-updays,tothestaffat REACHCouncil,itisabusy(but fun)weekofprevention education.Wepauseourregularly scheduledprogrammingtovisit localschoolsandgive presentationsorsetuplunch tableactivitiesthathelpeducate youthontheharmfuleffectsof substanceuseandmisuseaswell asimportantbehavioralhealth topicslikefriendship,peer pressure,andhandlingemotions.
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StaffSpotlight
Pages3-4
YouthPreventionEducation Page5
REACHAcrossEllisCounty Pages6-10
REACHAcrossHillCounty Pages11-12
REACHAcrossJohnsonCounty Pages13-16
REACHRecoveryPrograms Pages17-18
REACHPodcast
Page19
UpcomingEvents
Pages20-21
Fundraising&Sponsors
Page22
Arts&Crafts
Pages23-24
ContactUs Page25
AsthenumberofstaffatREACHhasgrowninrecentyears,sohasour...well...reach! Thisyear,wevisited54schoolsin19schooldistrictsacross3countiesandsaw morethan15,000students!Wehadablastandwearealreadylookingforwardto servingmorepeoplenextyear!
Hi,I'mMollieFuller!
Staff Spotlight
IamthePeerAdvocatefortheSeedsto Successprogram.I'mmarriedandthe proudmomofanamazingfive-year-old daughter.IwillgraduatefromTarleton StateUniversityin2026.MyfaithinGod motivatesmetoloveothersandbea helper.Inmyfreetime,IloveStarWars, DoctorWho,cheeringontheMichigan Wolverines,andwatchingPrideand Prejudiceadaptations.
MynameisMatthiasHolmesandI’m aninternatREACHthissemester.I’m currentlyasenioratNelsonUniversity inWaxahachie,TexasandI’maboutto graduatewithmyBachelor’sinSocial Work.Mymainhobbiesarereading andworkingout.Ienjoywatching almostanysport,football,baseball, andFormula1aremyfavorites.
Mollie Fuller
Youth Prevention Education
InAugustweattendedmanyBacktoSchooleventsandgotreadyforabusy semesterfullofcurriculumatvariouscampuses.Thisfall,YPSisfacilitatingKids ConnectiongroupsatCommonGroundMinistries,J.R.IrvinES,McClatcheyES, SalvationArmyWaxahachie,MountainPeakES,SchupmannES,CarverECC, LummusIntermediateandTravisES. YPUisteachingPositiveActionlessonsatItaly HS,ShawMS,RedOakMS,DieterichMS,FrankSealeMS,andMilfordISD.Wehave alsobeenconductingparentgroupsusingtheGuidingGoodChoicescurriculum. WepausedcurriculumattheendofOctobertodoRedRibbonWeekpresentations andactivities.
YPIhasbeenimplementingthe BluesProgram,anevidence-based preventionandearlyintervention approachdesignedtohelpyouth recognizeandreframeunhelpful thoughtsbeforetheygrowinto deeperchallenges.Already,we’re seeingadifference.Studentsare beginningtoidentifytheirthought patterns,challengenegative thinking,andbuildstrongercoping skills.We’reproudtocontinue bringingprogramslikeBluesinto JohnsonandEllisCountyschools, helpingouryouthgrowstronger fromtheinsideout.
RRWatSimpsonElementary
REACH Across Ellis County
(1)8/2/25CassiepresentedonFentanylAwarenessand NaloxoneTrainingattheBi-AnnualFosterCareConference
(2)8/8/25ThankyoutoHopeHealthEllisCountyforinvitingus tobepartofyourNationalHealthCenterWeekEvent.Wewere abletoshareinformationonSafeStorage&Disposalof Medications,andprovideNarcantofamilies.
(3)8/16/25ReachAcrossEllisCountysetupaboothatthe Maypearl“RedvsWhite”scrimmagegamewherewedistributed freeNaloxoneEmergencyOverdoseKits,andgathered signaturesinsupportforSmokeFreePublicSpacesinMaypearl.
(4)8/23/25Manythankstoeveryonewhocameouttohelpat theCommunityWorkDayEventattheMaypearlSportsPark.The pickleballcourtsturnedoutgreat,andthefreshcoatofstainon thepicnictablesmadeahugedifference.
(5)8/27/25RAECandtheWPDprovideda“DrugTakeBackDay” attheWaxahachieSeniorCenterHealthFair.DirectorJohn Smithandotherswereabletodisposeoftheirexpiredand unusedmedicationsinanenvironmentallysafeway.
REACH Across Ellis County
9/17/25REACHboardmemberJanis Burdett,alongwithstaffmembers Cassie,SandyandShariattended theannualEllisCountyConvene. Janisispicturedwiththe ChampionshipBeltwonbytheEllis CountyMentalHealthWorkgroup Teamforcollectingthemostitems forthisyear'sdonationdrive.
9/28/25TheREACHTeamhadthe opportunitytoparticipateintheEllis CountyEmergencyPreparedness EventheldattheRailyardParkin Waxahachie.Wesharedinformation onSafeStorage&Disposalof MedicationsandtheupcomingDrug TakeBackEventinOctober.
9/17/25Weareproudtobeworking withtheRedOakISDImpact LeadershipTeamthisyear.REACHis providingeducationaltrainingand supportsotheseyouthleaderscan shareinformationwiththeirpeers.
REACH Across Ellis County
10/9/25-OurREACHteamprovideda resourcetabletoshareaboutourfree programsweoffer,anda“Self-Care SerenityRoom”thatparticipantscould relaxandenjoycreatingwaterart, coloring,themassagechairandmore. Wehad79participantsbuildtheirown selfcaretoolkitsbeforetheevent concludedfortheevening.
10/18/25Forthisyear’sRedOakFallFestival,REACHsponsoreda“CalmDown Space”withsensoryactivities,andaquietroomforthosewantingtotakea momentofmeditation.Wehadactivitiesforthekids,informationforadultsonthe upcomingDrugTakeBackDay,aMentalHealthsurvey,andinformationonthe freeprogramsavailabletothecommunitiesweserve.
REACH Across Ellis County
10/22/25RAECparticipatedinthe EllisCountyAdolescentSymposium providingtheopportunityfor participantstobuildaselfcare toolkitandsignuptowinacopyof Dr.CrystalCollier “NeuroWhereAboutsGuide”.
10/23/25ManythankstoStephenandRobfromWayneBozeFuneralHomefor beingourguestspeakersattheOctoberSeniorLunch&Learn,andforsharingthe “ImportanceofPre-Planning”.ShoutouttoKimberlyatEncompassHealth RehabilitationHospitalofArlingtonforprovidingtheamazingChipotlelunch.
REACH Across Ellis County
10/25/25WaxahachiePoliceDepartment, MidlothianPoliceDepartment,RedOakPolice Department,OvillaPoliceDepartment,Milford PoliceDepartmentandPalmerPolice DepartmentallparticipatedintheDEADrug TakeBackDay.Thankyoutoourcommunity volunteersthatassistedwiththeevent:Khristie, DonnaandRobin.
10/28/25CassieandSharihada resourcetableandgameforFinleyJr HighstudentstoparticipateinforRed RibbonWeek.
10/28/25RAECparticipatedintheMaypearl PoliceDepartmentsNNOeventandprovided somefunactivitiesforbothyouthandadults includingfacepaintingandballoon animals.Itwasgreattoseeallthelaw enforcementrepresentedattheevent!
REACH Across Hill County
August
AugustwasBacktoSchoolmonth,andREACHAcrossHillCountymetfamiliesat3 differentbacktoschooleventsacrossthecounty.Wedidalittlebitofeverything fromcollectingparentperspectivesonsubstancemisuseinyouthtoproviding backpacksandotherschoolsuppliestoensureHillCountykidsstartedtheschool yearprepared.
Wealsoparticipatedin Hillsboro’sNationalNightOut eventonAugust5 .National NightOutisanannual communityrelationshipbuildingeventthatpromotes police&community partnershipsalongwith neighborhoodconnectednessto makeneighborhoodssafer. th
HillsboroBacktoSchoolFair
ItascaBacktoSchoolFair
HubbardBacktoSchoolFair
REACH Across Hill County
September
InSeptember,coalitionstaffworked onsomebackofhouseprojectsto ensurewestartedournewfunding yearstrong.Wedidgetoutfrom behindourcomputerscreensafew times,includingtoparticipateinHill County’sResourceExpo!
October
Octoberwasawhirlwindasthechangeofseasonssparksnewwaystoshowupfor HillCounty!WepartneredwiththelibrariansatHillsboroCityLibrarytopromote theirnewESL/SSLclasses,encouragingculturalcompetencyanddiversity.Wegota chancetospeaktoHillsboro’sLion’sClubaboutourcoalitionandthepowerof prevention.WefinishedoffthemonthwithcelebratingRedRibbonWeekin3 differentschoolsacrossthecounty,encouraginghealthyhabitsandeducating middleandhighschoolersaboutthehealthrisksofusinge-cigarettes.
HillCountyResourceExpo
REACH Across Johnson County
August
REACHstaffmemberNikkiBowman attendedtheJohnsonCountyCrime StoppersmeetingonAugust14th.
PicturedareJohnsonCountyCrime StoppersBoardofDirectorsfromleftto right:DouglasHaynessecretary,Jennifer Lyontreasurer,PattyMaggardpresident, NikkiBowmanvicepresident,andCarol Kennel-Filleygrantfinancialofficer.
September
OnSeptember25thRAJChadacoalitioncelebrationattheirmonthlymeeting. ThankstoBabe’sinBurlesonforprovidingthedeliciouslunch!
REACH Across Johnson County
October
Picturedtopleft:Brandy,NikkiandGracieattended Alvarado’sNationalNightOuteventonOctober7th.
Picturedtopright:PathwayChurchinBurlesonwasableto id th i b ith d elaxationroom. hairfortheroom. ppreciationeventonOctober10th.
REACH Across Johnson County
Youth Coalition
RAJCyouthwrappedupthesummer withafuneventatPirate’sCoveinBurleson.
Sincethestartofschool,theyouthcoalitionhashad acoupleofmeetingsatOl’SouthPancakeHouse.
Youthwerealsogivenachancetoparticipateinapostercontest.Students designedtheirpostersontopicslikepreventingsubstanceuseandpromoting positivementalhealth. Thewinnerwas6 gradestudentLenaCaprio. th
REACH Recovery Programs
Thisfall,YRChostedweeklysupportgroupsonTuesdayevenings.Topicscovered includedsubstanceuse,copingskills,self-harm,reframingthoughts,andother recovery/mentalhealthrelatedtopics.Inadditiontostructuredsupportgroup topics,wealsohostpeer-leddiscussionsandsupportgroupswhichallow participantstosharewhatmightbeweighingonthemandseeksupport.
InOctober,weparticipatedinMidlothian’sHarvestFestivalscarecrowcompetition whereparticipantscreateda101Dalmatiansscarecrowdisplay(picturedbottom left).Itwon1stplaceintheyouthcategory!YouthalsoparticipatedinaHalloween partyhostedbyREACHwhereeveryonegottohavefunplayingspookygames, engaginginteambuilding,andcreatingmeaningfulsocialconnections! KryslynandCodyalongwithothercommunitygroups,providedresourcetablesat theNavarroCollegeCommunityHealthFairattheirWaxahachieCampus.
REACH Recovery Programs
We’rethrilledtosharethatREACHCouncilhasrecentlybeenawardedtwonew grants:theCommunity-basedOpioidRecoveryEffort(CORE)andTexasTargeted OpioidResponse(TTOR)!Thesegrantsrepresentanincredibleopportunityto strengthenourongoingcommitmenttosupportingyouth,families,and communitiesacrossJohnsonandHillCounties.
ThroughtheCOREgrant,we’llfocusoneducationandpreventioneffortsdesigned toreduceopioidmisuseandpromotehealthy,substance-freelifestyles.
Meanwhile,theTTORgrantwillallowustoexpandrecovery-orientedservices, providepeersupport,andconnectindividualsandfamilieswiththeresourcesthey needtobeginandsustainrecovery.
Wearedeeplygratefulforthetrustplacedinusandweareexcitedtoputthese fundstoworktoenhanceourprogramsandcontinuetomakeapositiveimpact whereit’sneededmost.Together,we’rebuildinghealthiercommunities,one connectionatatime.
REACH Podcast
Areyousubscribedtoour"REACHingOutWithREACH"podcast? Youcanfindusonmostpodcastplatforms! REACHCouncilbringsyouinformativecontentfromthefieldofsubstanceabuse preventionandrecovery.Tuneinforcurrentdrugtrendinformation,interviews withsubjectmatterexperts,storiesandtestimonials. Hereisarecapofourpastfewepisodes:
AUGUST-Thisepisodemightgetalittleuncomfortable,butinagoodway!We're callingthisone"Vapingisn'tavibe."
OCTOBER-Thisepisodeiscalled“ThePowerofPause:StressResponse& Grounding.”Becausesometimes,themosthealingthingyoucandoisnotreact. Clickheretolisten:https://reachcouncil.podbean.com/ DoyouhaveatopicyouwouldlikeREACHtotalkaboutononeofourpodcasts? PleasesendyourtopicideastoWendy.Lewis@ReachCouncil.org.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Arts & Crafts
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REACH:@reach.council
YRC:@yrc.reach
RAEC:@reachacrosselliscounty
RAHC:@reachacrosshill
RAJC:@reachacrossjohnsoncounty
REACH:@reach_council
YRC:@yrc.reach
RAEC:@reach_ellis
RAJC:@reachacrossjohnsoncounty
