UA Little Rock/MidSOUTH
Regional Prevention Providers Report Summary
November, 2017
REGION 1
Regional Prevention Advocacy Council
The Region 1 Regional Prevention Advocacy Council (Task Force) meeting will be December 1, 2017 in Rogers. The purpose of the upcoming meeting will be to plan a regional prevention conference for Northwest Arkansas (NWA). This conference is scheduled for May 31, 2018. The focus of the conference will be to highlight the four substances that reflect the over-the-state rate of use in the APNA data in Region 1 (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and prescription drugs) as well as to feature new information available at the state level. The Jones Center in Springdale (Washington County) has been secured as the location. Workshop presenters, keynote speakers, and conference details will be discussed. The Attorney General’s office has expressed interest in supporting a NWA conference. They have committed a staff member to attend the upcoming meeting to facilitate this collaboration. The planned showing of the documentary Written Off the night before the conference will instead take place at the Arkansas Prevention Summit in June in Fayetteville.
Training/Presentations/Media/Technical Assistance
The Special Project for November focused on Great American Smokeout Awareness Day in which the SPF process was followed. The Special Project included RPP collaboration with the NWA Tobacco and Drug Free Coalition and East students at Springdale School District.
Region 1 disseminated the November newsletter via Constant Contact to 191 stakeholders with the awareness month highlighted. Announcements at November coalitions meetings were made in all four counties. In addition, Clearinghouse resource materials featuring information on tobacco and smoking cessation were disseminated.
In preparation for December as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, the Region 1 RPP staff met with radio and television contacts to plan the PSA’s for airing on ESPN radio and KNWA television as part of the Region 1 RPP Media Awareness Campaign.
A tobacco retailer training is planned for January in Rogers (Benton County) in collaboration with Mandy Miller, Arkansas Tobacco Control and the tobacco prevention grantees serving Region 1. Retailers from all four counties will be invited to participate.
The Region 1 RPP collaborated with Region 3 RPP and offered a 3-day Substance Abuse Prevention Skills Training (SAPST) on November 1-3, 2017 at Lindsey’s Resort in Heber Springs. There were a total of 10 participants plus the 4 trainers, Laurie Reh, Margaret Morrison, Stacy Taylor, and Tarrah Powell. The full 3-day curriculum was followed and budgeted costs were shared between the two regions. Participants were fully engaged with the trainers and the training group was very satisfied with the training. This training meets the evidence-based curriculum training requirement as stated in the contract.
The RPP staff attended the 2017 AR Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Summit in Hot Springs on November 9, 2017. Both staff participated in the Education/Prevention Tracks and plenary sessions.
In addition, RPP staff attended the Arkansas Prevention Communication Seminar/Arkansas Social Media and Communication Training/Social Marketing: Encouraging Behavior Change/Introduction to Social Marketing Training on November 13-14, 2017 in White Hall.
Regional Coalition Meetings
Benton County Community Coalition (BCCC) (Arkansas Department of Health): The coalition met on November 30, 2017 in Rogers at the Center for Non-profits. Presentations were given by P.E.A.R.L. and the Center for Collaborative Care. The RPP promoted December as National Impaired Driving Prevention Awareness Month. The BCCC chair serves on the RPP Regional Prevention Advisory Council.
Drug Free Benton County Coalition (DFBC): The coalition met on November 8, 2017 in Bentonville at the Boys and Girls Club. However, the RPP staff were in Hot Springs at the Prescription Drug Summit. The DFBC Chair also attended the Summit and was awarded the APNet Cody Carpenter Community Award. The DFBC chair also serves on the RPP Regional Prevention Advisory Council. The RPP staff provided technical assistance in the planning and implementation of the Benton County Substance Abuse Prevention Luncheon held on November 3, 2017 at the Embassy Suites in Rogers. The Luncheon provided an overview of the coalition’s efforts during Substance Abuse Awareness Month in October.
Decision Point and/or DASEP Provider: The RPP has ongoing discussions/emails/texts, etc. with Decision Point's Regional Director on all matters related to the RPP prevention contract and budget. The RD for Decision Point (Raymon Carson) was invited to be a part of the RPP Regional Prevention Advisory Council.
NWA Collective Impact: A new coalition is in the process of being formed with Gina Allgaier – parent, prevention advocate and leader of Speakup About Drugs (SAD). The Region 1 RPP and the Center for Collaborative Care are providing technical assistance to this new initiative. Planning meetings were held on November 7, 2017 and November 28, 2017 at the Endeavor Foundation in Springdale. RPR Codi McCuistion has been asked to serve on the coalition board.
Carroll County Hometown Health: The coalition met on November 15, 2017 at the Berryville Community Center. A presentation was given by representatives of a senior services program aligned with Schmieding Senior Center and Mercy Hospital. The RPP staff promoted November as Great American Smokeout Awareness Day and December as National Impaired Driving Prevention Awareness Month. The RPP offered a coalition scholarship to CCHH and the group discussed how to appropriately spend those funds. CCHH would like to hold a community event/training in the spring of 2018. The CCHH chair was invited to be a part of the RPP Regional Prevention Advisory Council.
Madison County Health Coalition: The coalition met on November 20, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church in Huntsville. The AR Department of Health gave a presentation on tick diseases. The RPR promotedNovember as Great American Smokeout Awareness Day and December as National Impaired Driving Prevention Awareness Month. The tobacco prevention and PSP grantee leaders serve on the RPP Regional Prevention Advisory Council. Discussions will be held in December with the coalition leader on the RPP scholarship available to the coalition for a future training event.
Children Adolescent Services System Programs (CASSP): Washington County CASSP (Regional System of Care Council) met on 11/30 at Ozark Guidance Center in Springdale. The RPP staff were unable to attend due to another coalition meeting. The CASSP/Regional System of Care Council chair was invited to be a part of the RPR Regional Prevention Advisory Council.
Coordinated School Health – Fayetteville Schools:The coalition meeting was canceled.
Coordinated School Health – Springdale Schools: The coalition met on November 16, 2017 and a presentation was given by Amber Booth, Senior Diversity Specialist with the Center for Diversity Affairs UAMS, on a two part course titled “Building a New Framework for Better Social Solutions” an interactive presentation about cultural humility. The module educates its participants about dimensions of diversity, unconscious bias, micro-inequities, and how these issues impact society. The RPR promotedNovember as Great American Smokeout Awareness Day and December as National Impaired Driving Prevention Awareness Month.
NWA Tobacco & Drug Free Coalition (Drug Free Communities grantee): The coalition met on November 14, 2017 at the Ozark Natural Foods in Fayetteville. The RPP staff were in Pine bluff and unable to attend. The NWATDFC leaders serve on the RPP Regional Prevention Advisory Council.
NWA Safe Communities: The coalition met on November 6, 2017 at the Washington County Health unit in Fayetteville. The coalition discussed car seat inventory/checkups and underage drinking prevention initiatives. The RPR promotedNovember as Great American Smokeout Awareness Day and December as National Impaired Driving Prevention Awareness Month.
NWA Suicide Prevention Coalition: The coalition did not meet in November. The next meeting will be in December. HARK at the Center for Collaborative Care has agreed to chair the coalition for the next 18 months.
Project Right Choice (PRC): Project Right Choice met on November 29, 2017 in Fayetteville and discussed hosting a substance abuse awareness event in the spring in Washington County. The coalition also reviewed the recent Prescription Drug Take Back Events.The RPR promotedDecember as National Impaired Driving Prevention Awareness Month.The PRC chair and secretary were invited to be a part of the RPP Regional Prevention Advisory Council.
Washington County Hometown Health: The coalition met on November 18, 2017 at Hope Cancer Resources in Springdale. The RPP staff were traveling to Hot Springs and unable to attend.The RPR is scheduled to meet with the PSP/YLD in Madison County regarding their interest in hosting training for law enforcement and parents (2 separate sessions) in the Spring. The RPP has funds budgeted as a scholarship for the Madison County Health Coalition. The coalition also has requested technical assistance with APNA data concerns for Madison County. Both the Madison and Benton County PSP grant coordinators participated in the Social Marketing Training. The RPR discussed the Drug Free Benton County December coalition meeting logistics with the Boys and Girls Club PSP/YLD grants manager while in White Hall at the training.
Pride Surveys (APNA): The RPP staff collaborated with Pride Surveys to assist numerous school districts in Region 1 as the survey process was completed. Questions were emailed to Melissa and each received an immediate response.
Region 1 RPR served on the 5-year Strategic Planning Committee with MidSOUTH/DAABHS. The committee met for the final time in Hot Springs.
Laurie Reh presented APNet Awards at the AR Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Summit.
Other Regional Prevention Providers:
Region 1 RPP participated in a collaborative meeting of all Drug Free Community grantees and their related RPP in Hot Springs prior to the Prescription Summit. The Drug Director attended as well and overall, the meeting provided opportunities for all to collaborate and gain new information.
Following discussion with Chuks and Derrick, Region 1 requested that one or two workshops provided by Julie Stevens be included in the AR Prevention Summit in June. The topicsrequested are 1) Marijuana: The Science and Society (1.5 hours) and 2) Alcohol and Drug Effects on the Brain (1.5 ATOD-specific hours). This would be in lieu of her traveling to NWA for the Region 1 Prevention Conference on May 31, 2018.
Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment Survey (APNA)
Contact was made with eighteen Region 1 school districts in Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington counties as the APNA survey concluded. The Region 1 RPP staff provided technical assistance to school districts upon request. Email contact was ongoing with individual school districts. Follow-up was made in November with each school contact person to offer assistance.
REGION 2
Regional Prevention Advisory Council
The Region 2 RPR met with members of the Advisory Council to discuss regional activities such as trainings for professionals in the area and sharing of information.
An Opioid Prevention Project being kicked-off in January. All members of the Advisory Council are expected to attend. A meeting is planned for the day of the event.
The following individuals make up the Region 2 Advisory Council.
Boone County: Tawan Manning, Tobacco Prevention Education Coordinator, Harrison Public Schools
Newton County: Jeff Dezort, Newton County Times Editor
Searcy County: Lisa Parks, Clinical Director of Preferred Family Health (Health Resources of Arkansas/Dayspring) and Searcy County School Board Member; Sadie Horton, Boston Mountain Rural Health Clinic
Marion/Searcy County: Charmaine Seaton, OUR Coop
Marion County: Valarie Davenport, School Based Health Coordinator, Yellville-Summit Public Schools
Baxter County: Jamie Leach, Baxter County Regional Medical Center, Marketing Coordinator
Trainings/Presentations/Media/Technical Assistance
The SPF process (assessment and capacity building) was implemented and taught during the Searcy County Coalition meeting in the discussions of planning a Teen Summit and in the technical assistance for planning to apply for a Drug Free Communities Grant.
Additionally, the SPF process was presented to thirteen AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers on November 15, 2017 in the monthly lunch and learn session. The topic was tobacco prevention and the SPF process was explained in the context of tobacco interventions. The content was presented and reinforced through a “tobacco jeopardy” game.
In the month of November, Region 2 partnered with the Arkansas Department of Health (all five county units), Americorps VISTAs, Boone County Drug Free Communities, Ignite Youth Group, and North Arkansas College to bring awareness in substance abuse prevention. The following marketing activities were delivered in Region 2.
- Distributed information packets at Boone County Teen Summit
- Teen summit content included bullying, ATOD, and suicide prevention
- Delivered information to area schools
- Delivered posters to Health Resources of Arkansas
- Distributed information at the Community Expo Booth
In November, Smoke Free Policies for public housing were presented to the Baxter and Marion County Unified Community Resource Council. In addition, a policy is being created in partnership with the Harrison Housing Authority. Harrison City Parks are monitored for continued enforcement as a result of Boone County Ignite’s presentation to the Harrison City Council.
The Boone County Teen Summit was held on November 1, 2017 and served approximately 500 eighth grade students. All county schools participated in the day-long event.
All Region 2 counties were represented in the attendance of the Prescription Drug Summit in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
On November 13-14, 2017, Region 2 partnered with the Arkansas Department of Health to provide space and logistic assistance in the Suicide ASIST training. This training included at least three Americorps VISTAs and a total of 24 participants from within the region received education in suicide prevention.
Region 2 also attended the two-day Social Marketing Training in Pine Bluff on November 13-14, 2017.
Region collaborated with the following groups in November: North Arkansas College, Arkansas Department of Health, Unified Community Resource Council of Marion and Baxter Counties, Tobacco Prevention Education Program, Law Enforcement (all five county Sheriffs); Public Schools, Drug Free Communities, and AmeriCorps VISTA.
Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment (APNA)
The Region 2 Prevention Provider worked in partnership with MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training, Pride Surveys, and all area schools to secure participation in the annual APNA. Of the fifteen school districts in the region, fourteen agreed to participate. The new superintendent at Cotter School District opted out. The RPR held two telephone conversations and one in person visit with the superintendent. Unfortunately, she reported that they would be opting out. The RPR will continue to work to build and strengthen the relationship with Cotter Schools throughout the coming year in an effort to secure future participation.
REGION 3
Regional Prevention Advocacy Council
Advocacy Council member Joyce Teas, DYS worker from Cleburne County, met with members of the Cleburne County faith-based community in Heber Springs on November 2, 2017. The Methodist Church is eager to start a new Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition for Cleburne that will begin in January 2018. Joyce Teas and the RPP Coordinator will meet to arrange time and agenda for the first meeting.
Andy Bullington, SRO and Criminal Justice Teacher at Southside High School, attended the SAPST training held November 1-3, 2017 in Heber Springs. He had excellent insight for the group from his experience with law enforcement and experience working at the school. His extensive faith-based work will also be useful in community connections and planning for the first Advocacy Council meeting that will be held on December 5, 2017 at the Bastesville Community Center.
Advocacy Council members that serve in Sharp County including Iretha Orrick, PATH and Renee Brink, ADH assisted Region 3 staff with the Sharp County Stakeholders meeting with CJI to discuss the PDO grant media plan and the upcoming town hall meeting. Renee Brink, is also the leader of the Sharp County Hometown Health Coalition in Sharp County and is taking on a lead role in organizing the PDO town hall meeting. Chelsea Maguffee from the Sharp County Home Extension program has offered to assist with the medication handbook portion and with representing Sharp County as part of the Advisory Council.
Tarrah Powell sent out an invitation to attend the upcoming Advocacy Council meeting scheduled for December 5, 2017 to all potential members on November 10, 2017. Reminders were sent to those who did not respond on November 15, 2017, November 22, 2017, and November 29, 2017. A final reminder will be sent on December 4, 2017.