Your Weekly News & Updates |
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Contact Dawn Fawcett- admin@wctcoalition.org
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Be well and stay safe.
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Locating a COVID-19 Diagnostic test in Western CT |
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211ct.org has compiled lists of testing facilities
Click here to view Danbury testing site options
Click here to view Waterbury testing site options
Click here to view Torrington testing site options
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From Fast Company, here are some tips for working successfully from home:
- Take breaks and recharge
- Strengthen communication with co-workers and colleagues
- Create a calming space to work- consider changing locations through out the day or switching from sitting to standing
- Get your tech together- be prepared
- Be mindful of the work/home balance- log off at the end of the day
Click here to read the full article |
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Regional Opioid Prevention Policy Workgroup Update |
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From the National Harm Reduction Coalition (harmreduction.org), harm reduction is defined as a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm Reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs.
Harm reduction incorporates a spectrum of strategies that includes:
- safer use
- managed use
- abstinence
- meeting people who use drugs “where they’re at”
- addressing conditions of use along with the use itself
National Harm Reduction Coalition considers the following principles central to harm reduction practice: (click to enlarge or download the PDF)
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Harm Reduction Efforts in Region 5 |
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Western CT Coalition is putting together Harm Reduction Bags consisting of Deterra bag disposal system, information on how to obtain Narcan, NORA Saves card which includes signs of an overdose and how to administer Narcan/Naloxone. The bags themselves include the LiveLOUD logo- the statewide campaign aimed at reducing stigma and increasing treatment and recovery supports. Bags will be handed out subsequent to an overdose reversal.
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Litchfield County Opiate Task Force led by McCall Center for Behavioral Health and Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, has what they call the "Harm Reduction Rover" offering syringe services, wound care, and other materials that reduce the negative health consequences of substance use. During COVID-19, they also offer additional supplies for basic needs, including small food items, water, hand sanitizer, masks, and more.
Lauren M. Pristo, Litchfield County Opiate Task Force Network Coordinator, shared "the LCOTF Rovers (there are now 5 in the community) are provided and stocked by the Greater Hartford Harm Reduction Coalition and primarily staffed by volunteers and community recovery coaches/navigators/case managers. We are always welcoming more volunteers."
To find out more about the Rover Initiative, click here
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Apex Community Care
With an unwavering commitment to serve members of the community who experience stigma, trauma and who have become disenfranchised, Apex provides services to embrace individuals facing substance use and mental health disorders.
At their office locations in Danbury and Torrington, and using their van to reach other communities in region 5 like Waterbury and New Milford, they provide a Syringe Service Program, Narcan training and distribution, and outreach and education. They also provide testing for HIV, STI's and Hepatitus C.
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Drug Free Schools Committee
Resources for Parents and Families
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World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10th every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.
World Mental Health Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.
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The Green TEAR Initiative (GTI) in Torrington is hosting:
Mental Wellness for All:
A Virtual World Mental Health Day Forum
GTI is a non-profit organization with its mission to increase awareness and understanding about mental health and addiction and advocate for a more accessible network of care.
Their vision:
A recovery and wellness friendly community in which every individual can thrive.
Contact information:
Jessica Knudson, Executive Secretary and Director of Communications
Green TEAR Initiative, Inc
860-921-2304
Follow them on Facebook @greentearinitiative
Click on the flyer below for more information about the event
and for registration links
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Region 5 Suicide Advisory Board Update |
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Suicide Risk and Mental Health Among
CT High School Students
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Courtesy of Celeste Jorge, MPH, Supervising Epidemiologist, CT DPH |
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QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Webinar Training
New dates in October.
Please join us!
This training helps empower all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know
Suicide Prevention is everyone's business.
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If you’re feeling alone and struggling, you can reach out the CrisisText Line by texting CT to 741-741 or
the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK.
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Vaping linked to COVID-19 risk in teens and young adults |
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The study, which was published online Aug. 11 in the Journal of Adolescent Health, is the first to examine connections between youth vaping and COVID-19 using U.S. population-based data collected during the pandemic.
Among young people who were tested for the virus that causes COVID-19, the research found that those who vaped were five to seven times more likely to be infected than those who did not use e-cigarettes. Click here to continue reading.
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Stanford University's Tobacco Prevention Toolkit- a theory-based and evidence-informed educational resource created by educators and researchers aimed at preventing middle and high school students’ use of tobacco and nicotine products.
Goals of the Toolkit
- For students to understand basic information about tobacco products, including e-cigarettes/vape pens, and the harm they cause
- For students to gain awareness of strategies manufacturers of tobacco, including e-cigarettes/vape pens, employ to increase use among adolescents through deceptive and creative marketing strategies
- For students to gain skills to refuse experimentation and use of tobacco
- For school teachers and administrators to be able to develop and set new school policies
Click here to learn more about this no-cost educational resource.
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Problem Gambling Awareness |
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