|
|
 |
 |
Coalition
organizes student assemblies and hosts Community Conversation
Students and parents to learn about addiction and substance abuse
GREENVILLE — On Monday, April 10, approximately 850 Greenville High
School (GHS) students in grades 9-12 will attend assemblies to learn
about addiction and substance abuse such as alcohol, marijuana, pain
medication and heroin. The Coalition for a Healthy Darke County
(Coalition) has organized a program in conjunction with GHS Principal
Jeff Cassell that will provide scientific data, evidence-based
information, and youth-led prevention dialog.
The student assembly speakers include Greenville graduate Anna Hatic,
D.O., Board Certified Internal Medicine, Family Health; Timothy
Kathman, M.D., Internal Medicine, Vice President of Medical Affairs,
Wayne HealthCare and Darke County Coroner; Darke County Sheriff's
Office Chief Deputy Mark Whittaker; and, the youth-led student group
Darke County We Are The Majority under the direction of Kelly Harrison
Prevention Specialist, Recovery and Wellness of Midwest Ohio.
The same evening in the GHS cafeteria at 6:30 p.m., the Coalition will
host a Community Conversation on Youth Substance Abuse Education and
Prevention. Parents, teachers, school board members, and
concerned citizens are encouraged to attend to hear a similar message
that is presented to students. The evening event is open to the
public and program information is oriented toward
adults.
Additional evening speakers will be Arcanum-Butler graduate Alisha
Reiss, M.D., General Surgeon, Wayne HealthCare and Ian Ridgeway,
Prevention and Wellness Coordinator, Tri County Board of Recovery and
Mental Health Services.
Ridgeway will present a unique program called Hidden In Plain Sight, a
traveling awareness program designed to help parents of teens recognize
unfamiliar hazards. It is an interactive awareness event for
parents, caretakers, educators, and community members.
Participants will have the opportunity to be guided through a simulated
teenager's bedroom that contains 50+ items that may be indicative of
dangerous and risky behaviors.
On Monday, May 15, 1,000 Greenville Elementary students K-4 will also
learn age-appropriate substance abuse education and prevention during
school assemblies. The speaker and assembly programs are
funded through collaborative grant dollars from the Coalition, Darke
County United Way and Greenville Rotary.
A student assembly presentation organized by the Coalition is
encouraged and available to all Darke County school districts free of
charge upon request.
"The Coalition believes in delivering a consistent message to youth
that drugs can devastate their lives and destroy their futures.
We need to share that message whenever and wherever there is a
teachable moment," said Sharon Deschambeau, president, Darke County
Chamber of Commerce and Coalition.
Sponsors for the Coalition events are the Darke County Chamber of
Commerce, Darke County Coroner's Office, Darke County Sheriff's Office,
Darke County United Way, Family Health, Greenville Rotary, Premier
Health, Recovery and Wellness of Midwest Ohio, Tri-County Board of
Recovery and Mental Health Services, and Wayne HealthCare.
Visit the Coalition website at CoalitionDarkeCounty.com for local
resources, to donate or join the Coalition, call 937-548-2102 or email
info@darkecountyohio.com The Coalition is a 501(c)(3)
not-for-profit organization.
|
|
|
|
