Post on 19-Mar-2016
description
Teens tell us what keeps them “Above the Influence”
INS IDE TH IS
I S SUE :
Above the Influence 1
“Tuxedo Card
Contest” winner,
design & thanks
2
Youth Network
Update
3
Summer Dine-Out Series
3
Rx drug use 4
Member Spotlight 4
CUMB ER L AND
COUNTY
H E A L THY
COMMUN I T I E S
COAL I T ION
A N I N I T I A T I V E O F :
T H E S O U T H W E S T C O U N C I L , I N C . S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1
Jessica Ortuso
Project Director
jessica@southwestcouncil.org
P: 856.794.1011 ext. 302
Katharine Cristaudo
Project Coordinator
katharine@southwestcouncil.org
P: 856.794.1011 ext. 303
Chair
Tracey Huggins
Vice Chair
Melissa Niles
Editor
Brian Kanady
Meetings are held at
The Southwest Council, Inc.
1405 N. Delsea Dr.
Vineland, NJ 08360
Joseph Williams
SWC Executive Director
execdirector@southwestcouncil.org
Reducing substance abuse among youth in Cumberland County
Staff and members of the
Cumberland County Healthy
Communi�es Coali�on know
that pressure to take part in
doing drugs and alcohol is only
one of the many difficul�es
youth in our community face.
Teens are not only influenced
by their peers, but also by
family members, media and
their environment. Each influ-
ence, both posi�ve and nega-
�ve, has a huge impact on the
decisions young people make
every day. In the month of
May, Coali�on staff spent �me
with over 300 students in 9th
and 10th grades at Millville
Memorial High School con-
duc�ng Above the Influence
(ATI) ac�vi�es.
ATI ac�vi�es aim to engage
teens in a casual conversa�on
about what’s going on in their
lives. Drugs and alcohol as well
as other unhealthy choices are
discussed in a non-tradi�onal
manner, encouraging stu-
dents to lead the conversa-
�on. A.er posi�ve and nega-
�ve influences in both the
students’ community and in
general have been discussed,
youth are asked to design a
symbol. This symbol is made
from the ATI logo on which
students draw or write posi-
�ve things or name people
that keep them above making
unhealthy choices. The sym-
bols provide an understanding
of not only the students’ cur-
rent interests, but also their
dreams for the future.
Following the symbol ac�vity,
students are asked to take a
hard look at their symbol.
What is it that all these posi-
�ve things in their life are
keeping them above the influ-
ence of? A.er giving it some
thought, students are asked to
think of a crea�ve way to de-
pict what they are above the
influence of in a photograph.
For some students we spoke
with, they are above the influ-
ence of teen pregnancy, oth-
ers gangs. Some teens even
expressed that they are above
the influence of gossiping and
cyber bullying. A.er an hour
and a half with each group,
staff really bonds with the
teens and they are invited to
join the Coali�on’s Youth Net-
work where their voices will
again be heard to help make a
difference in their community.
The CCHCC would like to thank
the faculty and administra�on
who welcomed us into their
school and classrooms for four
days. The ac�vi�es which staff
have been trained to facilitate
have proven to be a great way
to engage teens in discussion
and we are con�nually im-
pressed with their crea�vity
and individuality.
If you would like to know more
about ATI ac�vi�es please
contact Jessica at (856) -794 -
1011 ext. 302 or,
jessica@southwestcouncil.org
P A G E 2 Congratulations to the 2nd annual
"Tuxedo Card Contest" winner,
Maria Jimenez
Providing alcohol to minors or allowing
drinking to occur on property an adult
controls can lead to heavy fines and
even jail �me.
Underage drinking can ruin things you
want for your child,
Some�mes the coolest
thing you can do for your teen is to
be a parent.
Congratula�ons to Maria Jimenez, a senior at Millville Senior
High School, for submiCng the winning “Tuxedo Card
Contest” design!
One thousand copies of Ms. Jimenez’s design were printed
on glossy postcards with the message to the right printed on
the back. Copies of her artwork and messaging aimed to-
wards parents were distributed to businesses both students
and parents go in prepara�on of prom season in both English
and Spanish.
Youth throughout Cumberland County were encouraged to
par�cipate in the Coali�on’s annual contest to design a posi-
�ve message about staying safe during prom season. The
Coali�on chose Ms. Jimenez as the first place winner. During
the May mee�ng Maria and her mother, Yolanda, joined us
to be recognized. Maria received a $50 gi. card, a Coali�on
wristband, t-shirt and a framed winner cer�ficate. Two run-
ners up were also each awarded a $25 gi. card in recogni�on
of their efforts!
Thank you to all our par�cipants! The Coali�on holds this
contest each spring. To stay up to date on all the Coali�on’s
happenings, including the “Tuxedo Card Contest,” please like
the Cumberland County Healthy Communi�es Coali�on on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/CCHealthyCommuni�es
Coali�on.
Members/Volunteers:
Tracey Huggins
Bob Sharp
Yolanda Jimenez
Melissa Niles
Alexis Regenelli
Michael Deleon
Carmen Miranda-Jones
Janine Fabrizio
Businesses:
L.A. Male, Vineland
Rienzi Bridal Salon, Vineland
Jessie’s Bridal Shop, Vineland
Cynthia Roberts Salon,
Vineland
Novedades Sin Fronteras,
Vineland
Jimmy’s Tailor Shop and
Formal Wear, Millville
Cuts on High, Millville
Millville Public Library,
Millville
Hollywood Tans, Vineland
Hair CuNery, Vineland
Best Nails, Vineland
Nails 4U, Vineland
LaB., Bridgeton
PI Nails, Vineland
The Lay Up, Vineland
Mimi and Kelseys, Vineland
Joe’s Main aNrac�on,
Bridgeton
Center for Family Services,
Vineland
Sun Bank, Vineland
P A G E 3 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1
Katharine Cristaudo
Young adults from around Cumberland
County gathered together on March 21 for
the Cumberland County Youth Network (YN)
Kick-Off mee�ng. Par�cipants learned more
about the Coali�on’s efforts and how they
can help with our goal of reducing substance
abuse among youth throughout the county.
CCHCC chair, Tracey Huggins, spoke and
shared with the youth that this is their op-
portunity to have a voice in their community
and make a difference.
Following the kick-off mee�ng, members
have par�cipated in two addi�onal
mee�ngs. The first, which was held in April,
was a team-building mee�ng where youth
par�cipated in Challenge Master’s ac�vi�es
to get to know one another beNer and to
build trust. Youth also got a feeling for what
it was like to work together as a team
The second mee�ng, held in May, included a
presenta�on on nutri�on given by an em-
ployee of the local YMCA. The mee�ngs have
yielded posi�ve feedback and the youth are
excited for the opportunity to help their com-
munity.
The goal of the YN is to engage the young
adults of Cumberland County in reducing
substance abuse and crea�ng a healthier
community for all community members to
live in. Youth will be empowered to be the
voice behind the change. Upcoming events
and presenta�on topics include a trip to Wild-
wood Beach, fitness classes, career and col-
lege planning, healthy rela�onships and
more. Members will also par�cipate in CCHCC
ini�a�ves such as our youth-led PSA, commu-
nity health fairs and events, CCHCC Quarterly,
na�onal conferences and more. This is an
excellent opportunity for the members to
engage in ac�vi�es they may not otherwise
have the opportunity to do so.
Anyone that would like to join the YN is wel-
come. If you would like more informa�on
please contact the CCHCC Project Coordinator
at (856) 794-1011 ext. 303.
Cumberland County Youth Come
Together for a Common Cause
JOIN THE CCHCC FOR THEIR 2012 SUMMER DINE-OUT SERIES
Katharine Cristaudo
Take a break from the heat and join
the CCHCC for some summer fun out
of the sun. The Coali�on is hos�ng
Dine-Out fundraisers throughout the
summer to help fund the Coali�on’s
efforts to reduce substance abuse
among youth in Cumberland County.
The CCHCC is partnering with
Friendly’s, Cosmopolitan Restaurant,
Lounge and Bakery and Texas
Roadhouse to raise money for such
ini�a�ves as sending members of the
Youth Network to na�onal confer-
ences and to implement permanent
prescrip�on drug drop-off boxes
throughout Cumberland County. Each
restaurant will give a percentage of the
patron’s bill to the CCHCC at no extra
cost to the customer.
The first of the series will take place on
Tuesday, June 19 at Friendly’s located at
3655 South Delsea Drive, Vineland. The
next event will be Tuesday, July 17 at
Cosmopolitan Restaurant, Lounge, and
Bakery located at 3513 South Delsea
Drive, Vineland, NJ. Both events takes
place from 5pm- 8pm. The final Dine-Out
event will be at Texas Roadhouse located
at 2299 North 2nd Street in Millville, NJ
on Monday, August 20 from 3:30pm –
10:00pm.
Those who wish to par�cipate must
bring pre-approved fliers that can be
found out www.southwestcouncil.org or
by contac�ng our office at (856) 794-
1011. Please join us for a meal and help
support the CCHCC’s efforts to reduce
substance abuse among youth in Cum-
berland County.
FYI: FYI: FYI: FYI: With the help of The
Southwest Council, Inc., the
CCHCC is currently in the
process for applying for
funding that would allow us
to help host
Challenge
Day at local
high
schools!
Contact us for more information on the CCHCC, our Youth Division or to sign up for our mailing list!
CCHCC
c/o The Southwest Council, Inc.
1405 N. Delsea Dr.
Vineland, NJ 08360
Phone: 856-794-1011 ext. 302
Fax: 856-794-1239
E-mail: jessica@southwestcouncil.org
facebook.com/CCHealthyCommunitiesCoalition
You make it possible, Tracey Huggins The Coali�on would like to recognize
and thank Tracey Huggins for her posi-
�ve contribu�ons to the CCHCC and the
community. Among her many responsi-
bili�es, Huggins currently serves as the
Chair of the Coali�on. In July she will be
speaking to the Coali�on’s Youth Net-
work about the power of posi�ve self-
esteem.
Huggins is on a mission to help “at
promise” youth and young adults to
realize their natural-born “inner resolve
to be a success.” She remains com-
miNed to providing a message that
promotes self examina�on and person-
al accountability. Since the incorpora-
�on of Renewed Minds in November of
2008, she has provided programs, semi-
nars and mo�va�onal speaking engage-
ments to thousands of youth, young
adults and stakeholders in various as-
pects of social service across the coun-
try.
Huggins has had many accomplish-
ments in the social services arena. She
has been an ac�ve member of the Na-
�onal Parent Leadership Team of Par-
The Cumberland County Healthy Communities Coalition was formed to build healthy communities by
reducing substance abuse among youth.
The Coalition is a group of concerned community members of all ages and from all walks of life, including educators, law enforcement, parents, youth, faith
leaders, health professionals, media, local government and businesses.
We need a Healthy Communities Coalition because a group with a common goal can achieve so much more than an individual alone. Our Coalition promotes coordination and partnership between
organizations to create environments that are alcohol, tobacco and drug free. We build links between local organizations and individuals who are working to
accomplish common goals.
The Coalition meets at the Southwest Council’s Cumberland County Resource Center Office in Vineland. We welcome any interested community members to attend our next general meeting on
Monday, July 9, 2012 at 1:30.
The Coalition is a community initiative of The Southwest Council, Inc. Funds are provided by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and managed by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
ents Anonymous since 2009 and is a Pro-
fessional Facilitator for Parents Anony-
mous. She is a member of the Cumber-
land County Youth Services Advisory
Council and also a chairperson for the
Young Women’s Ac�on Alliance of the
State of New Jersey. Recently she has
been acknowledged by Governor Chris
Chris�e of New Jersey as he appointed
her officially to the Office of Juvenile Jus-
�ce and Delinquency Preven�on State
Advisory CommiNee. She was also re-
cently inducted into the Soroptomist In-
terna�onal Chapter of Cumberland Coun-
ty, an interna�onal organiza�on dedicat-
ed to improving the lives of women and
girls around the world! Tracey is also
currently a Nursing Supervisor at the
Oceanview
Center for Re-
habilita�on in
Cape May, New
Jersey.
The Coali�on is
blessed to have
this amazing
woman work
with us!
“The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
(CDC) have classified
prescription drug abuse as
a national epidemic, and
the fastest growing
drug problem in the United States”
(CDC Grand Rounds,
1/13/12).