COMMUNITY MEMBERS TAKING STEPS TO SUPPORT RECOVERY

IN S IDE TH I S

I S SUE :

Recovery Walk 1

Habitat for Humanity

& the Youth Network 2

Rx drug abuse

awareness event 2

Holiday Bazaar 3

Meet the new

Project Coordinator 3

Member Spotlight 4

Drug Free

Communi,es 4

C U M B E R L A N D

C O U N T Y

H E A L T H Y

C O M M U N I T I E S

C O A L I T I O N

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 . F A L L 2 0 1 2 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 2

Jessica Ortuso Project Director

jessica@southwestcouncil.org P: 856.794.1011 ext. 302

Michael Regenelli Project Coordinator

michael@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

Reducing substance abuse among youth in Cumberland County

PRO-ACT, an energe,c grassroots organiza,on

for people affected by Substance Use Disor-

ders and their family members, hosted their

annual Recovery Walks! event on Saturday,

September 22 at Penn’s Landing in Philadelph-

ia. The purpose of the walk, besides the

obvious camaraderie it builds, is to raise

awareness of drug and alcohol addic,on as a

public health concern. Those in recovery, and

those who support recovery efforts, walked

proudly in an effort to overcome the s,gma

o7en unfairly associated with substance

abuse, provide hope that recovery is real and

to honor those who have not survived the

disease.

An Honor Guard and the Cau,on Community

Youth Drill Team lined up shortly before

9:00a.m. to begin the 1.75-mile route which

started and ended at the corner of Front and

Chestnut Streets near Penn’s Landing Great

Plaza. The walk was filled with a sense of ac-

complishment and celebra,on for a life free of

drugs and alcohol. Thousands of par,cipants

raised suppor,ve signs above their heads and

chanted the importance of working together

to support recovery efforts. Those in recovery

for over 10 years donned a special purple sash

indica,ng the number of years they’ve been

clean.

“For me, the Recovery Walks! was very spiritu-

al. Thousands of people gathered together to

demonstrate that recovery is happening eve-

rywhere. It was especially poignant for me to

have my daughter there with me to share the

hope that we do recover,” said Melissa Niles

of First Step.

Among the walkers suppor,ng the recovery

effort were over two-dozen members from

the agency’s three county coali,ons, including

the CCHCC. Early that morning, volunteers

and staff boarded a bus provided by The

Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug

Abuse which offered free transporta,on from

the Southwest Council. Free lunch was also

provided by the New Jersey Division of Mental

Health and Addic,on Services for all who reg-

istered through the New Jersey Preven,on

Network. New Jersey Preven,on’s transporta-

,on organizer reported that approximately

390 individuals from the great Garden State

aDended the event.

“What gives me hope is that at Recovery

Walks! I see hundreds and thousands more

people every year. I feel that my physical

strides alongside many others, most of

whom walk with the same shoes as I, are

strides from pain, from addic,on, and toward

long-term recovery,” shared Michael DeLeon

of Steered Straight.

Organizers claimed over

20,000 people aDended

the walk, making it the

largest event of its

kind in the United

States.

P A G E 2

Youth Network building hope with Habitat for Humanity

Michael Regenelli

This fall, the Youth Network will be volunteering

with Habitat for Humanity on a local construc,on

project. The coali,on has been working with

Robert Scarpa, the Execu,ve Director of Cumber-

land County Habitat for Humanity, to set a date

and coordinate the ac,vity. Mr. Scarpa tells us

that Youth Network members of all ages will be

able to par,cipate. Youth over the age of 16 will

be able to use tools and assist with the construc-

,on of the house, while youth who are under 16

can help out in other ways, such as seFng up

refreshments.

This is an exci,ng volunteer opportunity that

promises to be a fun way to make a difference in

the community. Volunteering with Habitat for

Humanity provides on the job learning of vital

skills. Youth will learn proper safety procedures,

teamwork, responsibility, and value of work.

Habitat for Humanity provides a unique and valu-

able experience that gets young people outside

and ac,ve at a ,me when homework and social

pressure conspire to keep them indoors and on

the computer. For Youth Network members in

high school, volunteering with a na,onally recog-

nized and highly respected organiza,on is also a

great way to build a resume.

Youth who are interested will need to pass a brief

online safety test and receive parental approval

in order to par,cipate. If you missed the presen-

ta,on by Robert Scarpa and Habitat for Humani-

ty’s Youth Ambassador Kimberly Sansalone at our

September Youth Network mee,ng and would

like to par,cipate please contact Michael

Regenelli at: michael@southwestcouncil.org or

856.794.1011, ext. 303.

W ��: Join us as we welcome guest

speaker, Linda Surks. Linda will discuss her son Jason’s

experience with the fastest growing drug trend, prescription

drugs. Community resources will be made available as well as light

refreshments.

W ��: October 24, 2012 - 6:30pm-8pm

W ���: Luciano Conference Center

Cumberland County College

3322 College Dr.

Vineland, NJ 08360

Parking lot G

H����� ��: CCHCC & SCRATCH

In partnership with

Southwest Council, Inc.

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 2

MICHAEL REGENELLI REMICHAEL REGENELLI REMICHAEL REGENELLI REMICHAEL REGENELLI RETURNS TO SERVE AS THE CCHCC PROJECT COORDINATORTURNS TO SERVE AS THE CCHCC PROJECT COORDINATORTURNS TO SERVE AS THE CCHCC PROJECT COORDINATORTURNS TO SERVE AS THE CCHCC PROJECT COORDINATOR

Holiday Bazaar 2012 Avoid the holiday crowds and join us at our Holiday Bazaar. Purchase gift items from local vendors

for everyone on your list and enjoy some live holiday entertainment while you shop! Date: December 8, 2012

Location: Lakeside Middle School 201 N. Sharp St. - Millville, NJ

Time: 9am-2pm

This fundraiser will support the Cumberland County Healthy Communities Coalition and our efforts towards reducing substance abuse

among youth in Cumberland County.

We expect to have a wide variety of products for sale. In addition to

the sale items, door prizes will be raffled!

Join us as a vendor to sell your products or crafts! Registration is easy ...

Purchase a table space for a $30 donation and donate something for the CCHCC to raffle off.

All other proceeds are yours to keep!

For more information on how to join us or a registration form please contact

Jessica Ortuso at jessica@southwestcouncil.org 856.794.1011 ext. 302

Musical performers are also needed!

Michael Regenelli, Project

Coordinator for the Cum-

berland County Healthy

Communi,es Coali,on

(CCHCC), has recently

joined the Southwest Coun-

cil. Michael graduated

from Rutgers University in

2008 with a degree in psy-

chology and history/

poli,cal science. He began

an internship with the Southwest Council later that

year, and would eventually be hired part-,me to

provide B-Grant programs such as Keepin’ It Real,

Keys to Inner Visions, and Life Skills Training to

schools in Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem

coun,es.

Michael le7 the Southwest Council in May of 2011

to pursue his Master’s degree in teaching at Rowan

University. A7er comple,ng the program in June of

2012, he returned to work in the capacity of the

CCHCC Project Coordinator.

Michael not only currently lives in Cumberland

County but was raised in Vineland, NJ. He will be

able to provide a unique perspec,ve being a life-

long resident in the county the coali,on aims to

serve. Michael and his girlfriend Tiffany are

excitedly expec,ng their first child in January.

Michael is interested in seeing how he can use his

background in educa,on and substance abuse

preven,on to assist the members of the CCHCC,

and the Youth Network in par,cular. For more

informa,on contact Michael at:

michael@southwestcouncil.org or 856.794.1011,

ext. 303.

Contact us for more information on the CCHCC, our Youth Network 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, Michael DeLeon In May of 2012 the CCHCC gained a new member, Michael DeLeon. Since joining, DeLeon has dedicated his ,me to spread-ing the word of the coali,on’s mission. DeLeon spent 10 years in state prison for a gang-related homicide a7er nearly eight years of drug addic,on and gang involve-ment. Since his release from prison, he has earned three associate’s degrees and a bachelor’s degree in Business Manage-ment, with a minor in Criminal Jus,ce. DeLeon is now in the process of obtaining his master’s degree in Criminal Jus,ce at Rowan University, his master’s degree in Social Work at Rutgers University School of Social Work as well as obtaining his CADC. DeLeon is the founder of Steered Straight, Inc. The program is designed with the inten,on of carrying a message to youth and young adults regarding the extreme dangers of drugs, gang-involvement and criminal ac,vity. He spends his ,me de-veloping Steered Straight by stressing the importance of young men and women making sound, ra,onal decisions in their day-to-day lives. Michael also founded the Project Pride Program while incarcer-ated in prison. A7er pitching the idea for this program to the then Commissioner, he worked to develop the message that consequences are severe and life-las,ng.

The Cumberland County Healthy Communities Coalition was formed to build healthy communities by

reducing substance abuse among youth.

The Coalition is a group of commited 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 Office in Vineland. We welcome

any interested community members to attend our next general meeting on

Monday, November 12, 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.

Project Pride is s,ll in existence at the New Jersey Department of Correc,ons. DeLeon believes he has truly found his call-ing, having experienced the very highest and lowest that life can offer. “I believe that I can greatly impact and posi,vely influence a vast number of people for the remainder of my life,” said DeLeon. DeLeon has not only eagerly taken on his new role on the coali,on but also serves as a member to various other community organiza,ons including: Cumberland County Juvenile Reentry Team Member of Cumber- land County; Cumberland County Human Rela,ons Commission; Vineland Posi,ve Youth Develop- ment Coali,on, Juvenile Jus,ce CommiDee; Cumberland County, NJ, Community Jus,ce Panel, Office of Community Jus,ce and the Kiwanis Organiza,on.

ONDCP HAS ANNOUNCED $7.9

MILLION IN NEW DRUG FREE

COMMUNITIES SUPPORT PROGRAM

(DFC) GRANTS TO 60 COMMUNITIES

AND 6 NEW DFC MENTORING GRANTS

ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE AWARDS

ANNOUNCED IN AUGUST ARE IN

ADDITION TO THE NEARLY $76.7

MILLION IN CONTINUATION GRANTS

SIMULTANEOUSLY RELEASED TO 608

CURRENTLY FUNDED DFC COALITIONS

INCLUDING THE CCHCC AND 18 DFC

MENTORING CONTINUATION

COALITIONS. THESE GRANTS PROVIDE

COMMUNITY COALITIONS NEEDED

SUPPORT TO PREVENT AND REDUCE

YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE.