working together to identify and address community goals
Registration for the Youth Mental Health First Aid class that is scheduled for Tuesday, February 12th is now closed. We are excited to announce that all 30 seats have been accounted for with representatives from four school districts, two tribes and a handful of concerned citizens. Great job Forest County!
The Community Coalition of Forest County was able to secure a recovery coach through Marshfield Clinic Health System/AmeriCorps. Recovery coaching is available for anyone with a substance use disorder or any individual affected by substance abuse, including families, children and friends. If you or someone you know could use extra support, please call Mary Thornton at 715-660-6805
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 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
Review KNOW METH resources and get involved in The Community Coalition of Forest County. Visit knowmethwi.org to learn more.
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
This October the Leadership Council at Crandon Middle School is promoting a community-wide Red Ribbon walk and Community Café.The goal of the council is to have students, families and community members join forces to promote the importance of being a drug free community.
Red Ribbon Week is a national campaign that runs from October 23-31. The walk will begin at 5pm on Wednesday, October 24th and will start at the Courthouse Square, downtown Crandon. We will walk together as a community that stands against drugs from the courthouse to the school using the walking trail.
Along the route, participants will have an opportunity to view positive messages on being drug free which will be posted at local businesses and spots along the trail. Once at the school, a light snack will be served and Mike McGowan, a nationally known trainer, consultant and motivational speaker, will guide a Community Café. The purpose of the café is to give the community stakeholders an informal and safe place to discuss concerns surrounding teen drug use. The stakeholders include family members, community members, business owners and the various community agencies.
Agenda:
5:00-6:00 PM Red Ribbon Community Walk (Courthouse to School)
6:00 PM Mike McGowan – Community Café (HS Gym)
Please consider joining us in promoting positive and healthy habits for our youth. The entire community is encouraged to wear red on October 24th to show support for Red Ribbon Week. If you have any questions, contact Tina Taylor at 715-478-6166 or taylotin@sdofcrandon.com.
The Community Coalition of Forest County is partnering with the Human Service Center of Forest, Oneida and Vilas Counties to offer Forest County residents numerous opportunities to view a free screening of the documentary “Written Off”. The next Forest County screening date is Wednesday, October 3rd at the Crandon High School.
“Written Off” chronicles the life of Matthew Edwards, a Crandon High School graduate, whose addiction to opioids began at age 15, after being prescribed pain medicine for a minor surgery. His grippingly honest writing reveals the secrets he tried so hard to conceal throughout a decade long struggle to escape addiction. Matthew’s mother, Jane Funk, currently a teacher at Crandon High School, published the book “What I Couldn’t Tell you: One Man’s Struggle with Opioid Addiction” in June of 2017 and worked with filmmakers Molly Hermann and Rob Lyall on the “Written Off” documentary.
In addition to the film, parents, grandparents and caregivers are encouraged to tour Forest County Health Department’s “Hidden in Plain Sight” mock teen bedroom, which will be set up at the school. The interactive room is a simultaneously amusing and horrifying scavenger hunt, which helps adults spot the signs of substance abuse or addiction that may be hiding in a teen bedroom. This will be set up to view at 5:30 pm and “Written Off” will begin at 6:00 pm. A discussion panel of local law enforcement, Matthew’s mother, Jane, and local recovery coaches will follow the documentary. Admission is free and no registration is required.
For more information about the documentary film and/or the Mock Teen bedroom, please contact the Forest County Health Department at 715-478-3371.
The Community Coalition of Forest County is partnering with the Human Service Center of Forest, Oneida and Vilas Counties to offer Forest County residents numerous opportunities to view a free screening of the documentary “Written Off. ” The next Forest County screening date is Wednesday, May 23rd at the Laona High School.
“Written Off” chronicles the life of Matthew Edwards, a Crandon High School graduate, whose addiction to opioids began at age 15, after being prescribed pain medicine for a minor surgery. His grippingly honest writing reveals the secrets he tried so hard to conceal throughout a decade long struggle to escape addiction. Matthew’s mother, Jane Funk, currently a teacher at Crandon High School, published the book “What I Couldn’t Tell you : one Man’s Struggle with Opioid Addiction” in June of 2017 and worked with filmmakers Molly Hermann and Rob Lyall on the “Written Off” documentary.
The documentary film will be shown beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23rd at the Laona High School. The screening is recommended for ages 14 and up. Admission is free and no registration is required.
In addition to the film, parents, grandparents and caregivers are encouraged to tour Forest County Health Department’s “Hidden in Plain Sight” mock teen bedroom which will be setup at the school. The interactive room is a simultaneously amusing and horrifying scavenger hunt which helps adults spot the signs of substance abuse or addiction which may be hiding in a teen bedroom.
For more information about the documentary film and/or the Mock Teen bedroom, please contact the Forest County Health Department at 715-478-3371.
You may be surprised to learn that prescription opioid (or narcotic) abuse is a big problem in the State of Wisconsin. You are not alone. That’s why the Wisconsin Department of Justice, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and partners across the State, is sharing a DOSE OF REALITY and working to prevent prescription painkiller abuse in Wisconsin. When prescribed and used properly, prescription opioid painkillers can offer relief. However, anyone is at risk of becoming addicted, especially our young people ages 12-25.
Deaths and hospitalizations from overdoses are increasing, and four out of five heroin addicts start by abusing prescription painkillers. In the words of Attorney General Brad Schimel, prescription painkiller abuse is a “public health crisis in Wisconsin.”
Join thousands of other Wisconsinites taking positive action during DOSE OF REALITY WEEK, April 22-29, 2018.
Film Tells Gripping Tale, Challenges Stigma
In 2016 more Americans died from overdoses than in the entire Vietnam War conflict. And yet those new casualties are rarely considered victims of disease. With the support of Rep. Ann Kuster, (D-NH), Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, the documentary film “Written Off” is challenging conventional thinking about addiction.
The film chronicles the life of Matthew Edwards, a Crandon High School graduate, whose addiction to opioids began at age 15, after being prescribed pain medicine for a minor surgery. His grippingly honest writing reveals the secrets he tried so hard to conceal throughout a decade long struggle to escape addiction. Matthew’s mother, Jane Funk, currently a teacher at Crandon High School, published the book “What I Couldn’t Tell you : one Man’s Struggle with Opioid Addiction” in June of 2017 and worked with filmmakers Molly Hermann and Rob Lyall on the “Written Off” documentary.
