Volume 39 | March 17, 2021
Your Weekly News & Updates
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Contact Dawn Fawcett - admin@wctcoalition.org
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The Weekly Update is now posted each week on our Facebook page
St. Patrick's Day Safety Tips:
  • Remember-The legal age to consume alcohol is still 21.
  • Set limits and measure your drinks. What counts as a drink?
  • If you are going to gather with others outside your household, wear a mask and safely social distance.

"May the Sun Shine Warm Upon your Face"- Irish blessing
Regional Opioid and Other Drug Prevention and Policy Workgroup
Provider Education Opportunity:
This WebEx Live Event Provided by Connecticut Comprehensive Pain Center at UConn Health
Recommended for Prescribers and Providers!
March 22
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Click here to learn more and to register.
Part of 'Ouch That Hurts'- A Series of WebEx Live Sessions on
Safe and Guideline-Based Pain Management, Opioid Prescribing, and
Communication Tools for Collaboration.
Drug Free Schools Committee
Resources for Youth, Parents and Families
Support for Families
Parent Connection has expanded beyond Newtown, now servicing Watertown/Waterbury. Parent Connection's mission is to educate and empower our communities in the prevention of substance abuse and to embrace the families affected by this crisis.
The Watertown/Waterbury Hope and Support group meets every Tuesday from 7:00-9:00 p.m. currently on Zoom. Click here for more information.

Visit the Parent Connection website to learn more about support groups in Newtown, and Fairfied/Milford, and their bereavement groups.
Mental Health
Region 5 Suicide Advisory Board
Suicide Postvention is Prevention
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center defines postvention as activities which reduce risk and promote healing after a suicide death. Western CT Coalition provided an opportunity for members of our communities to be trained in best practices, and to begin to assemble their local response teams. Our guest presenter was Tom Steen, a master trainer in suicide prevention, postvention and grief support. Topics included:
  • Breaking down stigma that surrounds suicide; stigma can lead to secrecy, isolation, and shame for survivors of suicide loss
  • How to mobilize and make resources available (like grief supports)
  • Best practice standards for communication and funeral plans
Follow up meetings are scheduled as we continue to help our communities work toward the goal of establishing a postvention response team.

If you would like to learn more, contact us.
The next Region 5 Suicide Advisory Board meeting is
3/24/21 10:00-11:30 a.m.




QPR Webinar Training
Space is available 3/26
Please join us for this gatekeeper training. All are welcome!

"Suicide Prevention is
Everyone's Business"
-QPR Institute
Prevention


CT Clearinghouse offers Vaping and Marijuana: The Facts
The CT Clearinghouse has put together these 2 pocket folders containing prevention resources. We are distributing them to our Local Prevention Council partners. Included are fact sheets and brochures on 2 issues of concern for our youth - vaping and marijuana. There is also a "Vaping Toolkit" with more downloadable fact sheets and a comprehensive PowerPoint on e-cigarettes that coalitions can customize and use for a community presentation or to snip facts and graphics for their social media or web pages.

Visit the CT Clearinghouse website to find more great resources.
Problem Gambling Awareness
Proposed Legislation to Expand Gambling in Connecticut
Update from Paul Tarbox,
Manager of Advocacy and Communications at CCPG

S.B. No. 146 (COMM) AN ACT AUTHORIZING SPORTS WAGERING, ONLINE CASINO GAMING, ONLINE LOTTERY AND ONLINE KENO.
Senator Osten and the south-eastern CT delegation bill that would enable sports wagering inside and outside of the casino. It would also allow online casino games. CT Lottery would be allowed to launch a platform that offers online lottery and keno.
 
Proposed S.B. No. 570 AN ACT AUTHORIZING A TRIBAL RESORT-CASINO IN BRIDGEPORT, SPORTS WAGERING, INTERNET GAMING AND INTERNET LOTTERY.
As a proposed bill this is very short, essentially it offers the same expansion but also allows for a tribal casino in Bridgeport.
 
H.B. No. 6451 (COMM) AN ACT CONCERNING GAMING AGREEMENTS WITH THE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT TRIBE AND THE MOHEGAN TRIBE OF INDIANS OF CONNECTICUT.
This is the Governor’s bill and allows his to enter into negotiations with the tribes for the purpose of expanding gambling.
 
H.B. No. 6512 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FOR SPORTS WAGERING.
Makes the Department of Consumer Protection that agency charged with regulatory oversight for sports wagering. It also incorporates the following RG tenants:
  1. comprehensive employee training,
  2. self-exclusion,
  3. ability to set limits on time and money spent betting,
  4. inclusion of help/prevention messages
Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM) Continues!
There is still time to register for the Region 5 Problem Gambling Team event:
"The Wild World of Sports Betting"


Visit ccpg.org for a complete list of events scheduled in CT.