Announcements

Federal Grant Awarded to Recovery Network of Programs and City of Stamford to Expand Community Response Initiative
On December 27th the City of Stamford and Recovery Network of Programs, Inc. held a news conference to announce that we were the recipients of a Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance grant. The grant will provide $550,000 for 3 years to expand the Community Response Initiative (CRI). This first of its kind collaboration between the Stamford Police Department and RNP in the state of Connecticut placed the first embedded Police Social Worker (PSW) in a law enforcement agency.

Since the CRI began in April of 2021 the PSW has assisted in over 200 cases ranging from mental health, substance use disorder, juvenile, domestic violence, elderly, homelessness and many others. This partnership has been broadly recognized at the state, federal and national level. Read more about this initiative.
CALL TO ACTION! DCP announces public comment period for proposed regulation to update laboratory testing standards for medical marijuana

Comments Accepted Until February 1, 2022 at 5 p.m.

The Department of Consumer Protection has opened a public comment period to receive input on a proposfed regulation to update laboratory testing standards for medical marijuana.

The purpose of this regulation is to update microbial testing standards for medical marijuana to better protect public health and safety. This proposed regulatory change will create clarity and consistency for medical marijuana laboratories and medical marijuana patients. Learn more about the proposed regulation and submit your comments.
Vaccine Education: CDC Grant Will Help Train Social Workers to Inform Clients, Communities

The CDC is awarding $3 billion in grants to state and local health departments and community-based organizations “to expand COVID-19 vaccine programs.” National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is among the organizations receiving CDC grant money, because social workers are among the best professionals to help inform others about the benefits of vaccines.

NASW is partnering with the University of Texas-Austin Health Behavior Research and Training Institute on a one-year, $3.3 million CDC grant to engage the nation’s more than 700,000 social workers in boosting COVID-19 vaccine confidence, uptake and access, particularly among populations with low vaccination rates and higher vulnerability to severe forms of infection. Overall, the goal is saving lives. Read the full story.
Job Openings
RYASAP is Hiring LEAP Outreach Worker

The LEAP Outreach Worker will join the Learner Engagement & Attendance Program (LEAP) and work collaboratively with a team of Student Success Team members from Bridgeport Public
Schools. LEAP aims to reduce chronic absenteeism in Bridgeport Public Schools through a home visiting model. The LEAP team conducts daily outreach to chronically absent students &
their families, and works to re-engage the student while removing barriers to attendance. This
position will involve frequent communication with students and families in Bridgeport, daily home
visits, and on-the-ground support for students requiring daily documentation of efforts. Learn more and apply.
The Norwalk Partnership is Hiring Part-Time Coalition Coordinator

This position coordinates and supports The Norwalk Partnership (TNP), a community coalition to prevent substance misuse
in youth and young adults in Norwalk. It's an opportunity to gain experience in the field of substance use prevention and to contribute to positive youth development in the community. The position is funded through a federal grant held by Positive Directions – The Center for Prevention and Counseling. Learn more and apply.
Resources
In the News
More than a million Americans have died from overdoses...

Deaths due to drug overdose have topped a million for the first time since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began collecting data on the problem more than two decades ago. A study released Thursday by the National Center for Health...

Read more
www.npr.org
Logic's '1-800-273-8255' Song May Have Reduced Suicides

In the spring of 2017, rapper and producer Logic released "1-800-273-8255," a song featuring the phone number for the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The music video that accompanies the song features a young, queer Black man grappling ...

Read more
www.huffpost.com
The Hub: Behavioral Health Action Organization for Southwestern CT
A division of the Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership (RYASAP) 

Newsletter designed and created in collaboration with Daydream Communications, LLC