Volume 02 | April 8, 2020

Your Weekly News & Updates

Hello colleagues, committee members, volunteers, and friends! We hope this newsletter finds you and your family well. The coronavirus and COVID-19 disease has dramatically changed everyone's lives. Our staff have been working remotely since March 16th. We are thankful for our good health and that of our families. Our hearts go out to those who are suffering during this difficult time and we thank our healthcare workers who risk their safety for the sake of caring for others. Much of our work revolves around being personally connected to all of you and to those we serve in the 43 towns within region 5. We hope this weekly update will help to keep us all connected- with news and resources to share. We will be sending one out every Wednesday. We welcome any feedback. Be well and stay safe.

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It's Not all Bad.... Flowers and trees are blooming everywhere! The Town of Litchfield is encouraging residents to stand outside and ring bells at 8 pm daily as a sign of unity and hope. Waterbury Youth Services continues to offer the majority of their services through virtual programs, including their Girls Who Code Program! Danbury Youth who are part of Stand Together, Make A Difference are going ahead with their "chalk walk" by posting designs online. The Regional YMCA of Western CT continues to offer diabetes classes online

The Northwestern CT YMCA distributed Chromebooks to "homeschoolers" who needed one. All kinds of traditions and celebrations are continuing with"personal distancing" in mind, even Easter Egg Hunts like this one in Washington, CT. Tell us about good news items that are happening in your community!

Regional Opioid Workgroup Our next meeting will be a video conference on May 7th, 2020 at 5:30pm- Instructions will be emailed to the group in advance.  Narcan training is available by scheduling an online session with one of our trainers. We are currently working out a way to distribute Narcan to those who receive the training. As always, we are target community members who are uninsured or under-insured. However, if you need Narcan immediately you can get it through most pharmacies in our service area. It is wise to call ahead to be certain that the staff who are licensed to prescribe are on duty and that the naloxone is available. Please refer to this link for information about pharmacies that offer this service: https://portal.ct.gov/DCP/Drug-Control-Division/Drug-Control/Naloxone-Pharmacies   Some pharmacies may even deliver!

Drug Free Schools Committee The Social Workers and Counselors from our area schools are busy servicing students and families remotely. Search Institute is offering a 2-part webinar series entitled "Communicating About Developmental Relationships: New Insights from Frameworks Institute". Click on the Search logo on left for more information and registration.

Catchment Area Councils The Catchment Area Councils (CACs) in Region 5 were not able to hold regularly scheduled March meetings. CAC 21 will be holding a Webex-based meeting at 3pm on April 23rd. An agenda will be posted next week for those who want to participate.

Region 5 Suicide Advisory Board Outbreaks Can Be Stressful - The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger. Check out this great resource from the CDC on simple steps you can take to care for your mental health and for those around you during this difficult time and beyond. Vibrant’s Safe Space seeks to provide evidence-based self-help tools, education, and resources to people looking for support alongside crisis services such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, as well as people in emotional distress who may not be inclined to use a crisis service. The development of the Safe Space was done in collaboration with the three national advisory committees of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is funded by SAMHSA and administered by Vibrant. Whether you're looking for connection with others, coping tools to manage your concerns or distraction to take your mind off things for a while, this resource is here to help! If you are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

Local Prevention Councils Prevention Technology Transfer Center Network, funded by SAMHSA is offering online trainings. Click here: PTTC webinars Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) is offering "Trainer Takeover Week" and other webinars. Click here: CADCA Community National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has great online resources for parents and families. Share this link with your community. It includes a short video by Nora Volkov, Director of NIDA. Parents: Facts on Teen Drug Use

Problem Gambling Awareness Youth across CT created Public Service Announcements to raise awareness about youth gambling and where to access help. They all did a great job! Click the link below to view all 5 of them. We thank Naugatuck Youth Services for creating region 5's PSA! Problem Gambling- CT Youth PSAs Our Partners: (logos link to web pages)

Community Partners

E-based support offerings from Advocacy Unlimited. Click flyer image above for a full listing.

Our partners at McCall Center for Behavioral Health are offering SMART Recovery . These are free meetings via Zoom. Click on the flyer image above for more details.

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Newport Academy is sponsoring this webinar featuring Liz Jorgensen of Insight Counseling. "Delay Your Gray- Parenting Even in a Pandemic" tomorrow at 12:00 (4/9/20) Please click on the image above for registration link