SAPCA Members and Staff Attend National Leadership Forum
Each February, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America hosts the National Leadership Forum at National Harbor. This 4-day conference is packed with multiple adult and youth-oriented opportunities to learn the latest strategies to fight substance abuse and hear from nationally-known experts and policymakers. This year, SAPCA invited members from our partner organizations to attend the conference alongside SAPCA staff. The following individuals and agencies were represented:
- Kate Harbour, SAPCA Youth Board Member and junior at Alexandria City High School (ACHS)
- Fredy Martinez, SAPCA Board Member and Substance Abuse Prevention Counselor at Alexandria City Public Schools
- David Ulloa, Alexandria Mentoring Partnership Coordinator (Court Services Unit)
- Linda Odell, Director of Crime Prevention Programs (Court Services Unit) and Founder and Executive Director of Space of Her Own, Inc.
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April Pavis-Shroeder, Grant Coordinator for the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP) grant
- Emma Beall, SAPCA Coordinator
SAPCA appreciates our partners for making time to attend this conference to learn more about trending topics and ways to support youth and families. We look forward to our continued collaboration to meet the needs of our community, together.
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Alexandria Youth Speak Up: Lessons Learned from Alexandria’s Youth
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This virtual conversation featured a panel of ACHS students highlighting what they need from adults to navigate life after the pandemic. Youth panelists' responses fell under several key themes: relationships, mental health, skills/supports, voice and choice, and communication.
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As our community continues to work together to support Alexandria's youth, here are some key actions to consider:
- Share lessons learned from this event with your organization and lead a discussion about how to use this information in your work with youth.
- Commit to identifying specific opportunities for youth to have a voice in your organization’s decision-making including serving on your organization’s Board of Directors and youth advisory boards.
- Promote activities and services through channels most accessed by youth and include information about what is offered and how to access it.
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Explore ways to incorporate topics youth want to learn about into your programming through partnerships with other local organizations. Learn about the Developmental Assets and consider ways to incorporate this framework into your programming. Consider hosting a training for your staff about this topic – contact Lisette Torres at Lisette.torres@alexandriava.gov to learn more.
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Partner with CYFCC, ACAP, and SAPCA to host a forum for youth to share their voice –contact Lisette Torres at Lisette.torres@alexandriava.gov to learn more.
To review a summary of youth feedback shared during this event, click here.
To view the "Show Me You Care" video highlighted during this event, click here.
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City of Alexandria Collects 260 lbs. of Unused Medication
At the end of January 2022, the Alexandria Sheriff's Office disposed of 260 lbs. of unused and expired medication collected from the Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray's permanent medication drop box. Permanent medication drop boxes provide residents with year-round access to medication disposal. Alexandria also hosts drug take back events twice a year in accordance with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Drug Take Back Days; the next event is scheduled for April 30, 2022.
Year-round, medication can be dropped off at permanent medication drop boxes located at the following sites:
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Neighborhood Pharmacy: 2204 Mt Vernon Ave.; open Mon - Fri: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sat: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Sun: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Inova Alexandria Hospital: Visitor's Center Lobby (near cashier's window), 4320 Seminary Road; open daily from 1 - 5 p.m.
- Alexandria Police Department Headquarters (just inside front entrance, ring bell for access): 3600 Wheeler Ave.; available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
Please note that no needles are accepted during take back events or in the permanent medication drop boxes. Dispose of needles and syringes at a separate permanent drop box specifically for these items located inside the visitor's entrance at Inova Alexandria Hospital (4320 Seminary Road). The box is located near the permanent medication drop box next to the cahier's window; both drop boxes are available daily from 1-5 p.m.
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2021 Red Ribbon Week Poster Contest Winners Announced
The 2021 Red Ribbon Week (RRW) Poster Contest winners have been announced: Caitlin Feehely, a junior at ACHS, and Ashly Isabel Luna Jimenez, a kindergarten student from William Ramsay Elementary School, provided wonderful prevention messages on the benefits of a drug-free lifestyle through their poster designs.
As the theme was “Drug Free Looks Like Me,” both students displayed creativity in focusing on why students prefer being drug-free as it allows them to have a clear mind to make the right decisions, enjoy life, and learn. In addition to receiving a $100 gift card, the RRW winners’ posters will be featured as part of the 2022 RRW campaign celebrated each October in communities across the nation. This drug prevention awareness campaign is an ideal way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs.
This contest is hosted locally in collaboration with SAPCA, the ACPS Family and Community Engagement Center, SCAN of Northern Virginia, and the Mayor’s Campaign to End Bullying. To learn more about the RRW national campaign and how you can get involved, visit redribbon.org
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SAPCA Youth Board Member Selected to Attend Virginia Girls State
SAPCA Youth Board Member and ACHS Junior Kate Harbour was recently selected to participate in Virginia Girls State this summer. This competitive program accepts females who have successfully completed their junior year of high school and illustrate leadership, character, scholarship, loyalty, and service to their school and community. In addition to being selected to participate in this competitive opportunity, Kate also received a scholarship that will cover program costs.
During this week-long intensive program, Kate will join peers from across Virginia at Longwood University to learn how state and local governments work and to explore the responsibilities of citizenship in a democratic society.
Congratulations Kate! We cannot wait to hear about your experience at Virginia Girls State!
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Alexandria City High School Students Awarded Full-Tuition Scholarships
Congratulations to three ACHS students who were selected as Posse Class of 2022 Scholarship recipients. Through the Posse Foundation, Nana Addo Offei, Mya Lopez, and Sylvia Rahim will receive full-tuition leadership scholarships from Posse’s partner colleges and universities. Nana and Mya will attend Sewanee University, while Sylvia will attend the University of Virginia.
Nana and Sylvia are also actively involved in prevention and outreach efforts through their roles as Keep It 360 Peer Advocates, a group of students that work closely with SAPCA, ACAP, and the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center.
Congratulations to Nana, Sylvia, and Mya on this fantastic accomplishment! We wish you all the best as you wrap up this school year and transition to the next chapter.
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Youth Leadership Opportunity: Apply to Serve on the Children Youth and Families Collaborative Commission
The CYFCC encourages youth that live in the City of Alexandria and are interested in being front-line advocates for Alexandria's children, youth, and families to join the commission.
An official advisory group of the City of Alexandria, the CYFCC provides advice, advocacy, and pertinent information to Alexandria City staff, City Council, School Board, and other relevant groups in order to influence policy and decisions that result in better outcomes for children, youth, and families in Alexandria. Specifically, the CYFCC provides oversight of the Children and Youth Community Plan (CYCP) and monitors its implementation.
Commissioners generally attend two meetings per month and may do independent work for the commission outside of meeting times. The time commitment is generally 3-4 hours per month and consists of:
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General meetings on the second Wednesday of each month from 7 - 8:30 p.m. (currently on Zoom and eventually in-person). Commissioners must be able to attend these meetings regularly.
- Monthly goal group meetings to work on a project or conduct relevant work.
- Executive Committee meetings on the fourth Thursday of each month from 6 - 7:30 p.m. While optional, these meetings are a great opportunity for youth to meet with CYFCC leaders and other interested commissioners.
The deadline for submitting your application is February 25 at 5 p.m. Applications can be found at alexandriava.gov/Boards
Have questions or want help with your application? Please contact CYFCC Chair Amanda Hazelwood at cyfccamanda@gmail.com
Not ready to join the commission but still want to get involved?
Attend CYFCC meetings when you can, sign up for specific projects, and participate in the way that works best for you. The CYFCC will be hosting events, communicating about the work of the commission, and taking on special projects as the year continues. Please contact cyfccamanda@gmail.com to learn more or sign up.
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Volunteer Alexandria Recognizes Over 1,760 Alexandria Volunteers
Each year, Volunteer Alexandria recognizes and honors the work of volunteers and businesses that supported Alexandria's nonprofit organizations and community through Volunteers are the Heart of Alexandria, a celebration of individuals who gave their time and expertise to make the City a better place for all. In 2021, more than 1,760 people volunteered and donated over 62,560 hours, which is valued at $1,780,713.
Due to COVID-19 and to protect the health and safety of all, Volunteer Alexandria is celebrating and recognizing volunteers now via social media, delivering awards, sending a press release, and hopefully in person during National Volunteer week in April. Volunteer Alexandria also encourages everyone to:
- Thank someone you know is donating time to help others (a card, a cupcake, on social media by tagging #VolunteerAlex and #kindness)
- Take a photo at one of the banners at City Hall or at the Del Ray Pat Miller Square
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Make a donation in their name, or sign up to volunteer
To learn more about the celebration of Alexandria's volunteers, click here.
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Upcoming Events & Resources |
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Resource Spotlight: Raising Resilient Kids
The Partnership to End Addiction recently launched Raising Resilient Kids, an initiative to help families raise supported and healthy children. This launch included the introduction of A Parent’s Guide to Raising Resilient Kids, a resource that highlights 10 key protective parenting strategies that research has shown can promote resilience in your children. Some of these strategies may seem like simple, common-sense practices, like sharing your expectations and encouraging healthy risk-taking, but applying them effectively and over time takes a lot of dedication, time, patience, and drive.
To learn more about the Partnership to End Addiction, click here.
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Register for a free "Understanding ACEs" training here.
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City of Alexandria Announces Recreation Summer Camps and Out of School Time Programs
This summer, the City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities will offer a variety of week-long camps in sports, enrichment, nature, creative and performing arts, technology and aquatics. While full registration for these programs opens at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, February 23 for City residents and Friday, February 25 for nonresidents, a pre-registration period opened on February 7 for Alexandria families who qualify for federal assistance programs (free or reduced school meals, SNAP or TANF). Pre-Registration applicants are required to verify eligibility by completing a Pre-Registration Eligibility Form or by completing a paper copy of this form between February 7 and February 12.
To learn more about Out of School Time Summer Camp Programs, click here.
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Registration Opens for the 2022 Animal Welfare League of Alexandria's Summer Camp
This month, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) opened registration for in-person summer camp. With week-long camp opportunities for students ages 6 through 13, this program gives children the chance to learn more about animal care and compassion in AWLA's safe and exciting shelter environment. Campers will visit adoptable animals, learn how a shelter facility works, meet special guests, learn about animal training and behavior, and even help animals find their families.
AWLA is taking special precautions to make sure the summer camp experience is safe for all attendees. Click here to learn more and sign your student up for this animal-packed event today!
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Accessing Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Starting in early spring 2022, Medicare will pay for up to eight over-the-counter at-home tests per covered individual per month. Other health insurers are already required to do the same, by either directly paying the cost or via reimbursement for kits purchased on or after January 15, 2022. In addition, anyone can request four free over-the-counter tests for home delivery at covidtests.gov today, regardless of insurance. Information about other free testing options including local testing locations in Alexandria can be found on the City’s Get Tested webpage.
Every Alexandrian can take precautions to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Learn more about how to protect yourself and those around you at alexandriava.gov/coronavirus
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Emma Beall, MPH
SAPCA Coordinator
O: 703.746.3670
C: 571.302.1022
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Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria
123 N Pitt St, Suite 225
Alexandria, VA 22314
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