Get Involved in Problem Gambling Prevention!
We have two Gambling Awareness Teams in our region that were created to raise awareness about the potential risks of and tips to ensure safe gambling.

Region 1 Gambling Awareness Team is one of 5 regional teams in Connecticut through the Department of Mental Health and Addiction services. Our team is comprised of behavioral health treatment providers, youth, prevention professionals, behavioral health agencies, athletic organizations, the recovery community and state agencies. The team is very active in annual planning for Problem Gambling Awareness month (PGAM), providing presentations on gambling and now gaming, hosting community forums (e.g. fantasy sports) and panel discussions. All are welcome to attend our quarterly meetings.

Caribe Gambling Awareness Youth Leadership Team is a group of high school teens working together on annual projects to increase awareness on gambling and gaming. They do presentations, create PSAs and recently hosted a community event for high school and college students. 

Do you want to learn more? Come to a quarterly Gambling Awareness team meeting! Next meeting is April 13th from 2 - 4 PM. For more information on either of these teams or to attend a quarterly meeting, email: Ingrid.Gillespie@liberationprograms.org
April 1 is #TakeDownTobacco National Day of Action
Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action

Our hilarious line-up of comedians and roasters from Last Comic Standing, America's Got Talent and MTV's Wild 'n Out... and our host, Kierra Wagstaff, from Dash Radio! Kierra Wagstaff, Host Da Kid Gowie Maddy Smith Harrison Greenbaum Tori Piskin...

Read more
www.takedowntobacco.org
Why This Is So Important
Check out these infographics. Download and share them.
Announcements

Did You Miss Our ACTION Line Lunch & Learn?


CROSS Mini-Grant Request for Applications
The CROSS Initiative is currently accepting applications from private and public non-profits. Up to 12 organizations will each be funded with awards of $10,000 in order to start:
  • A weekly SMART Recovery Peer-Support group for youth or young adults
  • An Alternative Peer Group (APG) for youth or young adults in recovery
  • A weekly SMART Recovery Family & Friends group for caregivers

Awarded sites will become members of the Statewide Youth Recovery Support Network and attend monthly CROSS network meetings. CROSS Network members receive free SMART Recovery facilitator training, ongoing support, networking opportunities, and help with advertising and promotion peer-support meetings and APGs. Learn more.
HIRING: Program Manager Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) Initiative in Region 1*
This is a half time position with RYASAP’s thehubCT; Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization (RBHAO) division.
Program manager will work closely with: ThehubCT staff, Department of Labor’s (DOL) Workplace peer navigators and Connecticut Community for Addiction (CCAR) 

Job responsibilities include but are not limited to:
  • Recruiting medium size workplaces* within Region 1
  • Develop detailed work plan for each identified workplace consistent with RFW Toolkit
  • Procure resources necessary to support worksites 
  • Monthly data entry on all recovery friendly activities 
  • Complete a checklist of all activities completed by a workplace for final designation
  • Attend all meetings and trainings requested by RYASAP and/or DMHAS

In the News
Teens' Heavy Drinking May Lead to Changes in the Cerebellum

Teens who drank heavily showed lower gray matter volume in a cerebellum subregion compared to light drinkers when their brains were scanned in their 20s. The Crus II subregion is involved in social cognition, research suggests. Past research...

Read more
www.psychologytoday.com
Teen Brains Especially Vulnerable to Marijuana & Other Drugs

Teenagers are more likely to get hooked on marijuana, stimulants and other recreational drugs than college-aged or older adults. Adolescents and teenagers who experiment with marijuana and prescription drugs are more likely to get hooked on them...

Read more
www.nytimes.com
Post-lockdown consumers reach for alcohol-free drinks

Restaurants and bars in the U.S. are reopening and Americans who have been cooped up for more than a year are relishing socializing in person again. What's different, though, is that watering-hole patrons are increasingly consuming alcohol-free...

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

Newsletter designed and created in collaboration with Daydream Communications, LLC