Poster Contest Winners Announced!

Thanks to all who submitted artwork for the 2020 Prevention Week Poster Contest!

Armstrong Creek 1st Place: Quinn Cassidy

Crandon Community 1st place: Lauren Littleton
Crandon Community 2nd Place: Paisley Crum
Crandon Community 3rd Place: Kadyn Kincaid

Laona Community 1st Place:  Victoria Winkelman

Wabeno Community 1st Place:  Jaycee Mae Harris
Wabeno Community 2nd Place:  Willard Jon Harris

Made with Padlet

We’ll be sharing the posters online this week – they are sure to put a smile on your face! #Prevention Happens Here

Parenting Online

Join us for eParenting Little Ones and/or Raising High Tech Kids: Surviving and Thriving Online Courses!

  • eParenting Little Ones- for parents and caregivers with children 0-5 years old by Julia Erickson, HDR Educator with Forest County Potawatomi
  • Raising High Tech Kids- for parents and caregivers with children 6-17 years old by Tierany Rugg, HDR Educator for Florence County

To register: https://forms.gle/BcoFzK1Ufgp72e6v6 or scan the QR code with your phones camera, we look forward to seeing you!

2020 Prevention Poster Contest

The Community Coalition of Forest County is excited to announce it is sponsoring a 2020 Prevention Poster Contest.  The theme of the poster contest is “What a Healthy Forest County Looks Like” and is open to all Forest County youth ages 5-18. 

Due to the generosity of our Coalition partners, cash prizes will be awarded to youth in four communities:  Armstrong Creek, Crandon, Laona and Wabeno.  Entries need to be submitted online.  If you need assistance submitting the artwork online, please contact Michelle Gobert at 715-478-5908. 

NATIONAL PREVENTION WEEK 2019

The Community Coalition of Forest County would like to invite you to celebrate National Prevention Week (May 12th-19th) with a parade hosted on Crandon Main Street at noon on Saturday, May 18th. Directly following the parade will be a cook-out at the Crandon Community Building featuring
music, speakers, and children’s games.


National Prevention Week is brought to us by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), who sponsors a national campaign that takes place annually. This year’s theme is “Inspiring Action Changing Lives”. This event will raise awareness of the types of services available for Alcohol and Other Drugs (AODA) and educate community members of the ongoing efforts that are taking place to prevent substance abuse and mental health illness.

This a community wide endeavor, involving all three school districts. The schools are invited to participate in the parade, along with their pep bands. Also in attendance will be representatives of both the Potawatomi and Sokaogon Chippewa tribes. We are encouraging business owners, to participate not only to show support for a substance-free lifestyle but also to advertise their businesses as promotors of a better Forest County. A healthy community is very attractive to area visitors and encourages our youth to stay in the area or return here after they graduate from college.

Read More
post

Free Youth Mental Health First Aid Class

Recently members of the Community Coalition of Forest County discussed ways to approach the underlying issues related to addiction in our county.  The mental health well-being of our youth is one of our greatest concerns and recent actions by various organizations in the county prove that we all are willing to invest time and energy into improving the health and well-being of our residents.

However, sometimes it is not easy to know when and how to help a youth experiencing a mental health or substance abuse problem.  That’s why the Community Coalition is sponsoring a one-day free evidence-based training titled “Youth Mental Health First Aid” for school personnel, faith leaders, coaches, and other caring community members who have regular contact with young people ages 12-18. 

Youth Mental Health First Aid participants will gain knowledge of common mental health challenges for youth and learn strategies to help youth in both crisis and non-crisis situations.

The session will be offered on Tuesday, February 12th from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Forest County courthouse board room.  Instructors are Sara Foster and Stephanie Feldner of CESA 8. 

The training is free and open to individuals who live or work in Forest county.  Space is limited to 30 participants.  Lunch is provided by the Community Coalition of Forest County.

Online registration is available here or by contacting UW-Extension educator Michelle Gobert at 715-478-7797. 

The Community Coalition of Forest County Recognizes November 30 as Meth Awareness Day

The Community Coalition of Forest County joins organizations across the state to recognize November 30 as Methamphetamine Awareness Day.

Marshfield Clinic Health System, Northwoods Coalition, and Alliance for Wisconsin Youth in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services encourage organizations and individuals to take action on KNOW METH AWARENESS DAY.  This day is an opportunity for everyone in Wisconsin to learn more about the dangers of methamphetamine use and addiction, and what actions can be taken to prevent it.

Meth is becoming more prevalent in Wisconsin and KNOW METH AWARENESS DAY allows the community to work together to help fight this growing epidemic. From 2011 to 2016, meth availability in Wisconsin increased 250% according to the 2016 Wisconsin Methamphetamine Study.

“Our goal is to encourage people to talk to their children and family members about the risks and dangers of meth use and to get involved by supporting The Community Coalition of Forest County in taking action to prevent meth use,” stated Jacee Anderson, Coalition Chairperson.

Community members are encouraged to participate in KNOW METH AWARENESS DAY

  • Talk to your children, friends, and family members about the risks and dangers of meth use
  • Learn about the risks and get the facts about meth
  • Monitor the use of pseudoephedrine (cold medicine) in your home
  • Refuse to purchase pseudoephedrine for another person
  • Report suspicious activity to law enforcement’s drug tipline: 1-800-622-3784
  • If you come across suspected meth lab waste, immediately contact your local law enforcement agency

Review KNOW METH resources and get involved in The Community Coalition of Forest County.   Visit knowmethwi.org to learn more.

2018 Laona Red Ribbon Week Events

The Laona School District invites the community to take a visible stand against drugs by celebrating Red Ribbon week during the week of October 22nd.

Red Ribbon Week raises awareness of drug use and the problems related to drugs facing our community, and encourages parents, educators, business owners, and other community organizations to promote drug-free lifestyles.

For more information about Laona School District’s Red Ribbon Week activities, please contact Jason Bertrand at jbertrand@laona.k12.wi.us