Advocacy Matters!
Your voice can make an impact.
The Hub leads and supports advocacy efforts for behavioral health, substance use and problem gambling by educating community leaders, elected officials and the community at large.

What is an advocate? 
An advocate is someone who supports and promotes a cause, policy or interest with the goal of raising awareness and/or influencing change.

Advocates are critical to raising awareness and creating change because they put a human face on an issue/cause, which helps make more of an impact than statistics and facts alone.

Becoming an advocate for behavioral health and addiction is important because there is widespread stigma and misunderstanding and these areas are often overlooked when it comes to funding.

The current system is failing and in need of change because: 
  • We fail to prevent addiction (and behavioral health issues) or to catch the symptoms early.
  • There is little access to quality treatment.
  • Low-quality and fraudulent treatment is widespread and poorly regulated. Insurance coverage is poor, making treatment unaffordable for many.
  • There is widespread stigma that deters people from seeking care and undermines recovery.
(Adapted from Partnership to End Addiction Advocacy Toolkit)

Where do you start? 

What issue(s) are you passionate about? Whether it’s behavioral health, addiction, the environment, racial justice, or another issue, make your voice heard!
Get involved with current local issues!

There are many bills that are related to our work with behavioral health, substance use and problem gambling. Here is a list of bills we are following that may be of interest to you.

If you have an opinion on prohibiting the sale of all flavored cigarettes, tobacco products, electronic nicotine delivery systems and vapor products in Connecticut, next week on Monday February 8 from 9 AM to 6 PM, The Public Health Committee of the CT General Assembly will be holding a public hearing on SB 326.
Why is this an important issue?
The tobacco industry profits by hooking kids on flavored nicotine. When the product seems harmless, teen use rises. And nicotine’s changes to the brain could be permanent.
  • Do you want to help prevent kids from getting hooked on menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products – including flavored e-cigarettes, flavored cigars and smokeless tobacco?
  • Do you believe there’s no place for highly addictive flavored tobacco products that can severely damage our lungs during and after the COVID-19 pandemic?
  • Do you think it’s time for Connecticut to end the tobacco industry’s exploitation of Black lives for profit by eliminating flavored tobacco products – including and especially menthol cigarettes?

If so, Flavors Hook Kids Connecticut suggests the following ways you can educate state leaders about this issue and share your voice:

  • Submit Written testimony – ideally, you’ll submit this BEFORE the public hearing, now rescheduled to Feb 8th. Flavors Hook Kids Connecticut can help. Just e-mail, w/ subject line “Public Testimony – Written,” to get started. It typically requires no more than 15 to 30 minutes, with assistance from their campaign.

  • Live testimony via Zoom to the committee – Interested? Flavors Hook Kids Connecticut can register you. Just e-mail, w/ subject line “Public Testimony – Live”, to get registered. Once you’re registered, you’ll receive an e-mail confirmation with follow-up instructions from the Public Health Committee.

  • Read the campaign letter to legislators. If your organization would like to add their name, e-mail Flavors Hook Kids Connecticut, w/ subject line “Organization add request”.

Events at a Glance
Narcan Training Every Wednesday!


DEAR BLACK MALE...
February 8th, 9 - 11AM
Register by February 5th!


Problem Gambling Awareness Team Meeting Feb. 9th, 2-3:30


CRAFT & the Invitation to Change: A New Toolbox for Helping
February 10th, 7 - 8 PM


Developmental Assets & Developmental Relationships–
Connections that Help Youth Thrive
February 10th &11th
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM


The Intentional Relationships Workshop
February 11th and 12th,
2 - 4:15 PM


Community Resiliency Model Training Parts 1 & 2
February 17th and 24th


What You Need To Know About Youth Vaping
February 18th, 2 - 3 PM
Support Groups

for a complete list of
support groups
Please follow us on social media!
Save the Date
Methamphetamines Training, February 10th
Feb. 9th at 6:30 PM OR Feb. 26th at 11 AM
Drop-In Online Teen Social Events
Announcements
You are invited to join the Advisory Council for our 2021 statewide survey!
The DataHaven Community Wellbeing Survey completed live, in-depth interviews with 34,000 randomly-selected adults in every town in Connecticut in 2015, 2018, and 2020, producing robust local-level data on the issues most relevant to community well-being that are not available from any other public data source. This survey will be fielded again in 2021.

Our Advisory Council is a critical element of this program. All public agencies, institutions, and community-based organizations in Connecticut are invited to join the Council and help us select topics to include in this year's survey (there is no cost to join). Last year over 125 organizations participated. Register, provide feedback and submit ideas now. Responses are requested by noon on Thursday, February 11.
New: How Teens are Struggling with Loss and the Limits of Living Online
What many teens initially embraced as a short,
unexpected school break has become an extended trip to new territory, with no return
ticket. It is a trip that requires navigating friendships, family, school, media, social media, and self-identity without a compass to guide them. And it’s a trip that is plagued by loss.

This study aims to help caregivers, educators,
and adolescents themselves understand what
is happening beneath the surface, so they can
support and navigate the healthiest possible
response and adaptations to the loss and
changes of the COVID-19 era.
The Impact of Pandemic Life on Teens - Webinar Now On Demand
How is pandemic life affecting the mental health and well-being of our young people? How can parents and professionals equip and empower teens to make healthy decisions and adopt resilient behaviors? Join prevention expert Deirdre Flynn to examine emerging research about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent health. Discussion will focus on translating research findings into practical prevention efforts aimed at keeping the kids in your care healthy.
In the News

How to Reset (or at Least Lower) Your Stress in 5 Minutes

To help you hit the reset button, it’s key to know some quick, efficient stress-reducing strategies. Here are a few ideas from an assistant clinical professor in psychiatry.

Read more
www.nytimes.com
How To Help A Child At Risk Of Suicide

More families are dealing with their children feeling anxious and depressed and thinking about and even attempting suicide. But mental health professionals say that suicide is preventable and that parents and family members play an important role.

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