Newtown’s Helping Hands—

Prevention Council

Knits Together A Community’s Concern

By John Voket

The Newtown Prevention Council (NPC) may not have its own website yet, but the consortium of community agencies, health, education, law enforcement, and counseling professionals remains an organization ahead of its time when it comes to initiating successful community drug and alcohol prevention projects. And while it may seem an ironic coincidence that the group is conducting its 2005 member retreat on St Patrick’s Day, a holiday as popular for its green beer as the Irish saint it commemorates, NPC organizers are taking the occasional raised eyebrow in stride.

“We are serving corned beef and cabbage for lunch,” said NPC chairwoman Judy Blanchard of the upcoming March 17 retreat scheduled for the Fireside Inn.

According to Ms Blanchard, the retreat will provide an opportunity for the group to focus on the dwindling niches in the community where the group’s message and programs touting a “just say no” lifestyle have yet to take affect.

“We’ve received a five-year renewable $100,000 grant from the federal Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Association,” she told The Bee Monday. “And the focus of the grant is supposed to be improving the community in coalition.”

Ms Blanchard said in order for the grant to continue, it should be devoted to initiatives that bring as many community groups together around their cause as possible. The concept of community “wrapping,” whether it is regarding educational, social, or prevention concerns, is rapidly becoming a stipulated outcome for governmental as well as philanthropic funding.

But as far as the NPC is concerned, the group’s long-term, comprehensive attention to diminishing local trends in drug and alcohol abuse could end up working against them.

“Most of the recipient agencies for this grant are in the early stages of development,” she explained. “But our coalition has been around since 1986, so we will be very challenged to try to improve on the things we’ve been doing for years. If we don’t, we could lose the funding.”

That is why it is so vital for every member of the NPC to attend next Thursday’s retreat, Ms Blanchard said. Attendees at the retreat will be guided through the processes by Peggy Kelly, a facilitator and professional from the Education Connection.

“Our continuing success is dependent on each and every member being there to help examine where we’re coming from, to evaluate what we’ve done so far, to map out plans, and to provide ideas for our future,” she said.

 

Prevention Guide

Besides the planning activities, the NPC retreat will serve as a launching platform for the group’s new guide to prevention and treatment resources, which was recently compiled by Donna Culbert and the staff of the Newtown Health District.

“This guide is being published thanks to the hard work of our staff and the many NPC members and other community collaborators who suggested listing various agencies and organizations throughout western Connecticut,” Ms Culbert said.

She said the guide will be distributed to police and social service offices, mental health organizations, community and school libraries, school guidance departments, doctors’ offices, even local pharmacies.

“It’s hard enough for a parent, or caregiver, or a person facing an addiction themselves to step up and ask for help,” Ms Culbert said. “We want to make sure people can get to the resources they need, when they need them.”

To that end, The Newtown Bee will be collaborating with the NPC providing a blind download of the publication in pdf format through its website. This means anyone with Internet access can read or download the publication without any concern that their access may be traced or identified.

“Providing this prevention guide as a readable or downloadable file through The Bee will be an easy way for anyone who wants anonymity to access the resources they may need in a crisis situation, whether it’s a student, parent, spouse, or senior,” Ms Culbert said.

Ms Blanchard agreed wholeheartedly.

“Substance abuse issues are very private concerns for families in our community, and everywhere,” she said. “I hope everyone will feel comfortable utilizing this guide. It is a one-stop source that can show them where to go when they need it.”

Ms Blanchard said the resource guide was an initiative so important to NPC participants that its development was part of a mandate by the organization’s board of directors.

Law Enforcement Support

From a law enforcement perspective, both the NPC and its resource support have played a vital role in easing the substance abuse burdens threatening so many individuals and families today. Newtown Police Chief Michael Kehoe said his department has remained a strong collaborator with the NPC since the beginning.

“We are extremely pleased to collaborate in both identifying and solving community challenges,” Chief Kehoe said in a recent statement. “Since the community’s substance use problem is very complex, it will take input from many sources to brainstorm new solutions and implement them. Community change is difficult and it takes a strong base within the community to bring about these changes. NPC is one of the vehicles that will bring about those changes.”

The chief said the NPC complements the department’s mission of being thoroughly committed to the improvement of the quality of life for the residents of Newtown, by working in partnership with them.

“We look at the NPC as an asset with a plethora of resources,” Chief Kehoe said. “They certainly enable us and encourage the department to do a better job. Our participation in the NPC is community-oriented policy at its finest.”

Any members of the NPC who have yet to reserve their place at next Thursday’s retreat are asked to contact Nina Allred or calling Newtown Youth Services at 270-4335.