Spring 2024 Newsletter

A message from the Executive Director

Welcome to the 2024 Spring Edition of Prevention in Putnam, our quarterly newsletter. Please share with your colleagues, friends and family. We know that during this time we are inundated with information, however we hope our newsletter provides you with reliable and helpful tools and resources regarding substance use, preventing and reducing harm as well as youth problem gambling prevention that you will find useful.

Yours in Prevention,

Kristin McConnell

About

Resources

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Medication Take back Day

Join us Saturday April 27, 2024 for Medication Take Back Day at Putnam Hospital Center from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Visit our website for more details. If you can't make it to Putnam Hospital, Drug World will be collecting on the West Side of the county.

Medication Take Back Day

High in Plain Sight: Current Alcohol, Drug and Concealment Trends and Identifier.

Please join us on April 30, 2024 for a great presentation by Jermaine Galloway, also know as Tall Cop. For information and registration click on the link.

Hide in Plain Sight:

Events

Ride Health Available in Putnam County

The Prevention Council of Putnam is working with Coordinated Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) in collaboration with Ride Health, to provide transportation to individuals in the Mid-Hudson Valley who are receiving services in the behavioral health system and in need of transportation. The transportation service can cover multiple uses, including but not limited to court, grocery store, hospital discharge, benefit appointments, probation, etc.

NOTE: If an individual is eligible for Medicaid transportation and that service is available (i.e. medical transportation), this service should not be utilized.

For more information, please call Victoria at 845-225-4646.

For more information on Ride Health or our Recovery Peer Advocate pleased click link below.

Recovery Peer Advocate

Teen Health Webinar Presented by

Brewster High School

The Prevention Council is partnering with Brewster High School on this informative webinar series. Click the links below to register.

May 2, 2024

May 29, 2024

Welcome New Staff

Prevention Specialist

Natalia Sanchez-Bahr brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role as a Prevention Specialist with the Prevention Council of Putnam. With a background in Clinical Psychology from Universidad de San Buenaventura in Colombia and a Master of Arts in General Psychology from the City College of New York, Natalia has spent over 25 years serving her community in various capacities.

Her professional journey includes impactful roles such as Graduate Fellow at the Putnam County Department of Health, where she contributed to various health initiatives. Natalia's expertise extends to research, having collaborated with the NY State Psychiatric Institute on MRI studies related to substance use. She has also provided vital support and developed comprehensive treatment plans for patients at the HIV Center for Comprehensive Care.

Natalia's commitment to mental health is evident through her work with Cove Care Center, where she focused on early recognition and intervention. Her dedication to making a difference, even at an individual level, underscores her passion for serving children and families.

In her new position with the Prevention Council of Putnam, Natalia eagerly anticipates continuing her mission of positively impacting the community through prevention efforts. Her belief in the ripple effect of individual actions resonates deeply with her approach to community engagement and advocacy.

Vape Disposal Units

E-cigarettes are sometimes called e-cigs, vapes, vape pens, e-hookahs, and electronic nicotine delivery systems or ENDS. Some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items.

E-cigarettes contain nicotine and lithium batteries, making them hazardous waste. Please remember to dispose of these products safely. Read more here.

Vape Disposal Unit Locations

What Every Parent Should Know About Marijuana

Learn more about the impact of marijuana on a young person's brain, from edibles, to dabbing.

What You Should Know

Job Opportunity

Please check out our career opportunity page. We are looking for a school based mental health therapist.

Career Opportunity

Victim Impact Panel

The Putnam County Victim Impact Panel (VIP) Program is a collaboration between The Prevention Council of Putnam, Putnam County Probation Department and Putnam County STOP DWI. The program provides bi-monthly forums on the consequences of drunk driving from people whose lives have been impacted by a drunk driver. Other panel members include people in

The VIP is still being held virtually. To register please click link below.

Victim Impact Panel

Naloxone Training

Naloxone, also known by its brand name Narcan, is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. The New York State Department of Health has designated sites as Opioid Overdose Prevention Providers (OOPPs) which allows these sites to provide naloxone trainings and kits at no cost to recipients. The Prevention Council of Putnam (PCP) is a designated OOPPs provider and has been providing naloxone trainings to Putnam residents, organizations, schools, police departments, etc. In addition, PCP has furnished 149 naloxone boxes across Putnam County thanks to our HEALing Communities Study (HCS) grant, which allow for public access of naloxone in identified high risk areas.

If you are interested in receiving a free naloxone training and kit, please visit our website to submit a request.

Naloxone Training