Registration is Open for the 2022 Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference!
Registration is open for the annual Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference! This free hybrid conference is open to rising 9th through 12th graders residing in the City of Alexandria. This year’s conference theme is Lead With Courage. Click here to register.
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Think you know about fentanyl? Think again.
In response to a City-issued warning following twelve reported opioid overdoses, SAPCA and the City's Opioid Work Group created flyers to share facts about fentanyl with youth and adults. These flyers are also available in Spanish, Amharic, and Arabic. Please help share this important information with our community.
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Volunteer Spotlight: Recognition of Outgoing SAPCA Board Member
SAPCA extends our gratitude and appreciation to outgoing Board member Quameer Reddick-Parker. Quameer was elected to the Board of Directors in December 2018 and began his first term in January 2019.
He hit the ground running, supporting SAPCA's efforts to decrease substance misuse by distributing resources about the importance of safe medication disposal during a drug take back day event held in January 2019. Most recently, Quameer was elected to serve as the Treasurer for the Board of Directors in December 2020. During his time on the Board, Quameer used his knowledge, experience, and passion to support SAPCA. We wish Quameer the best and are so appreciative of all his hard work during his active involvement with SAPCA!
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SAPCA Prioritizes Planning During Board Retreat
On June 29, the SAPCA Board of Directors held their annual Board Retreat. During this event, Board members and Keep It 360 Peer Advocates reviewed data collected by SAPCA and our partners to guide SAPCA's priorities for the coming year. Participants also received t-shirts and reusable bags as a thank you for their hard work and dedication to preventing youth substance use in Alexandria.
At our next Board meeting, we will continue to develop our action plan for the coming year. If you are interested in participating in this process or have ideas to offer, please contact Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov
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SAPCA Celebrates Alcohol Awareness Month Art Contest Winners
In recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, SAPCA hosted an art contest encouraging middle and high school youth to create and submit art that celebrates ways youth can be alcohol free. After announcing the winners for this contest last month, SAPCA held recognition ceremonies in early June to recognize these students alongside their peers, teachers, school administrators, and families. Please join us in celebrating our art contest winners:
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First place: Santiago Jimenez
7th grade student at Hammond Middle School
Second place: Jeanela Macedo
8th grade student at GW Middle School
Third place: Samiyah McGill
7th grade student at Hammond Middle School.
Santiago, Jeanela, and Samiyah each received a certificate of recognition, framed copies of their original artwork, a $25 Target gift card, and a SAPCA swag bag.
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Keep It 360 Peer Advocate Program Updates
Please join SAPCA in welcoming new and returning Keep It 360 Peer Advocates, a group of Alexandria youth who work closely with SAPCA, ACAP, and the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center to support prevention and outreach efforts.
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New Peer Advocates:
- Andrea Funes Quinones
- Amel Mohdali
- Chelsea Waruzi
- Nathan Desta
Returning Peer Advocates:
- Alayit Berhanu
- Chloe Yokitis
- Lenhle Vilakati
- Yaerelin Molina
- Yanelvis Gomez
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After the school year wrapped up, the Peer Advocates attended a week-long planning retreat to receive training about providing education, information, and support to Alexandria teens about prevention topics. During this retreat, the Peer Advocates also planned activities that will take place during the upcoming school year. SAPCA looks forward to continuing to work with our partners and this dedicated team of youth to plan and implement youth-led activities.
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June Community Outreach Recap
This past June, SAPCA team members, volunteers, and our partners conducted outreach at a series of community events. On June 3, SAPCA volunteers Illiana Moses and Journey Lomax distributed 40 gun locks, 36 locking medicine boxes, and shared information about the Lock and Talk program during an event hosted by Moms Demand Action as part of National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
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SAPCA team members also partnered with ACAP, the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center, and the Keep It 360 Peer Advocates at the Alexandria Pride Fair on June 4 and at the 2022 Family Fun Day at Ramsay Recreation Center on June 11 to share information and resources with children, youth, young adults, and families.
SAPCA thanks Illiana, Journey, and our partners for their help connecting with our community during these events.
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Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria Releases 2022 Call for Grant Proposals
The Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria is seeking grant proposals from qualified nonprofit organizations to improve the health and well-being of youth and adults who live, work, and play in the City of Alexandria. Proposals are due by August 12, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. and must advance specific goals, strategies, and tactics in the Alexandria Community Health Improvement Plan in one of the Plan's three priority areas: housing, mental health, or poverty.
The strategies and tactics within each priority area are identified in the Community Health Improvement Plan. New and innovative tactics, not included in the Plan, will be considered as long as there is a written narrative showing the direct connection between the innovative tactic and its contribution to achieving the strategy or strategies identified in the proposal. In addition, proposals should describe how funding will be used to promote equity or address inequities or disparities.
Visit the Partnership's website to learn more about this Call for Proposals, apply for a grant, and review a set of Frequently Asked Questions related to the grant process.
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Help Spread the Word: 2022 Young Adult Survey
The City of Alexandria invites young adults ages 18-25 that reside in Virginia to complete the Young Adult Survey to provide input about their experiences and opinions about mental health and substance use. This anonymous survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete and informs local efforts to meet the needs of young adults. Young adults that reside in the City of Alexandria and take the survey are eligible to be entered into a drawing for a $35 Target gift card or receive a $10 Target gift card.
Young adults can access the survey link by texting Virginia to 855-632-2201. The last day to complete the survey is July 31. To learn more, contact Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov
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Upcoming Events & Resources |
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Explore Summer Opportunities for Alexandria Youth
Looking for summer activities for youth in your life? Explore a list of summer opportunities for youth, compiled by members of youth-serving agencies in Alexandria, and help share this information with youth and families in Alexandria!
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Sign Up for the Alexandria Library's SummerQuest 2022: Oceans of Possibilities
For the youngest group, points can be earned by logging the books a child reads or has read to them or by doing early literacy activities listed, including a storywalk at Holmes Run Trail. For the older age groups, SummerQuest participants earn one point for every 20 minutes they read or for taking part in a designated activity, such as attending a library program. Points can be redeemed for a free book and Washington Nationals tickets. Teens who complete the SummerQuest challenge will also be entered into a gift card drawing. SummerQuest runs from June 1 through August 31. Click here to learn more about this program.
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Volunteer Alexandria Hosts Breaks With Impact
Make a difference during Volunteer Alexandria's Breaks with Impact (BWI) program this summer. BWI is a chance for middle and high school students to learn about the issues facing their community and to do something about it. Participants will engage with non-profits, city agencies, and people from all walks of life as they earn service hours and explore career paths. Programs will take place in July and August.
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DASH Advisory Committee Seeks High School Student Representative
The DASH Advisory Committee is seeking a high school student representative to serve on this committee. The student representative will work with community members and DASH users to help identify opportunities and issues, investigate and discuss transit related topics, and propose solutions and recommendations to make DASH services better.
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Marijuana Talk Kit: What Parents Need to Know
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Alexandria Health Department Now Offers COVID-19 Vaccines to Ages 6 Months and Older
The Alexandria Health Department (AHD) and other providers are now offering COVID-19 vaccinations to Alexandria’s youngest residents: children under five years of age.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for this age group and accepted the recommendation of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which met on June 17 and 18 to review administration and safety data for the vaccine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the vaccines’ Emergency Use Authorization last week to include doses and vaccine schedules for children between six months and five years of age. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is for ages six months – four years and is three doses, with three weeks between the first and second dose, and eight weeks between the second and third dose. The Moderna vaccine is for ages six months – five years and is two doses separated by four weeks.
Parents and guardians in Alexandria have multiple locations to choose from when getting their youngest vaccinated, including AHD vaccine clinics, pharmacies (for ages three and up), and pediatricians’ offices. Minors are not able to consent to immunizations, so a parent or guardian must consent either in advance or at the vaccination site, depending on the provider. Vaccine appointments for this age group at AHD clinics will be posted on a rolling basis, and parents and guardians are encouraged to contact their children’s healthcare provider/pediatrician to see if their office is providing COVID-19 vaccines for this group. Appointments are required at this time. Visit alexandriava.gov/Vaccines for more information.
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COVID-19 Reminders
The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) strongly urge everyone to help end the pandemic by wearing a mask over both your nose and mouth, washing your hands frequently, and getting vaccinated. Your neighbors and loved ones are counting on you to stop the spread of COVID-19.
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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