Prevention Council Discusses Mission Statement

By Eliza Hallabeck

Rounding up its 2010-11 season, the Newtown Prevention Council discussed a possible mission statement during its last meeting until September on Thursday, May 19.

Leading the group discussion, Co-Chair Judy Blanchard gave an overview of a two-day retreat Prevention Council members attended in March. Ms Blanchard said part of the communications retreat had the attending members focus on what the Prevention Council is and how it is seen. Part of that process was developing a mission statement.

“It was a process,” said Ms Blanchard about the group that worked on the mission statement. “We did not take this lightly.”

While the Prevention Council did not decide on a mission statement during the meeting on Thursday, its current mission statement is, “Building a coalition of community members working toward a safe and substance-free town.”

Multiple options for a new mission statement were discussed before Ms Blanchard suggested having a group work on the mission statement for the future.

An overview of the Drug Free Communities Grant, which provides $125,000 a year for five years for the Prevention Council to continue its work, and how the grant has helped in the last year were discussed. Among the things funded by the grant ws the hiring of grant coordinator Kim Killoy and a community survey.

Programs, like an afterschool bus run at Newtown Middle School and school assemblies, were also funded or supported with the grant to help reduce youth substance abuse in town, according to Ms Blanchard.

The Prevention Council’s next meeting will be on September 15, when the group will resume meeting the third Thursday of each month.