In Our community in 2022
CADCA National Forum, Capitol Hill Day & National Coalition Academy (NCA)
In February 2022, members of the DFTF attended Capitol Hill Day during our CADCA Forum. We were able to meet virtually with representatives from Senator Menendez, Senator Booker and Congressman Malinowski’s office to encourage support of DFC programs and bills related to the NOPAIN Act (Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation Act). Bills S.586 and H.R.3259
Wendy and Laura attended and graduated from the National Coalition Academy (NCA). They were a part of the 2022 Tampa Cohort. It was an excellent learning experience where they created numerous deliverables including: a community assessment, logic model, strategic and action plan, sustainability plan among others. At CADCA’s National Forum they celebrated their graduation!
Latino Town Hall
In April 2022, we partnered with One Voice, the local faith-based coalition, and Harvest Family Success Center to host a Latino Town Hall all in Spanish at Hunterdon Central High School where we had over 97 attendees. We expanded capacity with resources that provide services in Spanish including YMCA, United Way, NAMI, RVCC, Union County College, Fisherman’s Mark of Lambertville, Shoprite of Flemington and RHUB.
Family Meal Cards with Flemington Food Pantry
Starting in May 2022, the Drug-Free Task Force along with Prevention Resources, Positive YOUth, Safe Communities Coalition and Harvest Family Success Center joined forces with the Flemington Food Pantry and America’s Grow-A-Row in their Family Meals initiative. They provide recipes and ingredients for families and encourage preparing and eating together as a family. We created “conversation cards” for families to use to start the conversation about these topics. Cards are written in English on one side and in Spanish on the other. Participants who complete a survey can win a ShopRite gift card. Learn more about the Flemington Area Food Pantry and America’s Grow A Row.
Freshman Locker Project
Dr. Greg Cottrell (Principal, NHHS) provided our coalition with a great idea! He wanted his Freshman class to start off High School with the tools they needed to be successful. One tool is having access to the HELP app. We created goody bags for the entering Freshmen at the High School. This goody bag contained treats with a message: information about the HELP App and a reminder to make good choices and having the HELP App can be a lifesaver. Best of luck to all the Freshmen! You can learn more about the HELP App here.
National Night Out Events
On August 2nd, we partnered with the Safe Communities Coalition and joined the Clinton & Readington Township police departments for National Night Out (NNO). NNO is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. We had fun games for the kids, great giveaways and provided parents and community members with really important information. 61 community members completed a quick survey to provide us information. We learned that Opioids/Rx medication was their leading substance of concern. This was closely followed by Alcohol and Nicotine/Vaping. Thank you to everyone who came out that night!
Volunteering with America’s Grow A Row
On September 14th we volunteered with America’s Grow a Row to harvest corn. It was fun and exhausting working in the corn fields. Grow A Row is an excellent place to volunteer. Click here for more information.
Help App Bathroom Project
The Drug-Free Task Force partnered with Positive YOUth on their Help App initiative to get posters and mirror clings into Middle and High Schools.
Our own task force member, Dr. Greg Cottrell gave us the idea for the mirror clings! Thank you Greg for being so helpful and an active member of our task force!
Marching in the Flemington Holiday Parade – If you feel different, you drive different!
On December 4, 2022 we participated in the Flemington Holiday Parade. This was a great partnership with the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce, the Safe Communities Coalition, the Positive YOUth initiative, Prevention Resources and our shared youth coalition – HCYC. The kids had fun holding the banner and handing out candy canes to kids on the route.
In Our community in 2021
One Voice Summit
We partnered with our local faith based Coalition- One Voice, to host an annual summit. The summit connects with faith leaders and law enforcement to encourage the spread of prevention messages.
Vape Disposal Boxes
The Drug-Free Task Force partnered with Positive YOUth to provide schools with a safe place that students can dispose of their vapes. Students can dispose of their vape anonymously in the vape disposal boxes that have been installed throughout Hunterdon County high schools. The disposal boxes have a QR code that students can easily access resources on how to quit vaping.
Overdose Awareness Day
August 31 commemorates International Overdose Awareness Day. International Overdose Awareness Day is worldwide event to remember those lost to an overdose, and support the family and friends left behind. There were speakers sharing their personal experience on the loss of family to an overdose, opportunities to post remembrance for those who have passed, and a candlelight vigil.
In Our community in 2020
Love My Lungs Challenge
While schools transitioned to all virtual learning and the State of New Jersey was on a stay at home order, the Drug-Free Task Force launched the Love My Lungs Initiative. Nearly 200 high school and middle school students took the pledge that they would not vape or smoke. Love My Lungs was created with the goal of connecting to middle and high school students in Hunterdon County and encouraging them to make positive choices. After taking the pledge, they received follow-up messaging reminding them of the dangers of vaping or smoking. To reward students for their positive choice, they were entered to win Amazon gifts cards, and one student won pair of Apple AirPods. This spring ,the Drug-Free Task Force will re-launch the initiative with the goal of educating more students about the dangers of vaping and smoking.
2020 CADCA Chairman's Award Recipient
In 2020, Project Coordinator, Meghan Moore, and coalition member, Erin Cohen, participated in CADCA’s National Coalition Academy (NCA). Meghan and Erin spent three weeks learning how to build an effective anti-drug coalition. At the conclusion of the NCA, coalitions were encouraged to submit an application for CADCA’s Chairman’s Award, based on what they learned in the NCA. We are pleased to share the Partnership for Health Drug-Free Task Force is the winner of the 2020 Chairman’s Award. They were presented the award on February 2, 2021, at CADCA’s NCA Graduation.
Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists
In October 2020, Project Coordinator Meghan Moore, along with coalition members, Amanda Kovacs and Amy Menes completed the training to become a Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialist (CTTS). In the next few years, Meghan, Amy and Amanda will complete the required 240 individual hours of tobacco treatment experience.
They will work with Tobacco-Free for a Healthy New Jersey to engage and educate young people on the dangers of tobacco. In addition, they will engage with participants in the Hunterdon County Recovery Center to educate and encourage tobacco cessation to those in recovery from substance misuse.
Trivia Tuesday
In an effort to engage and educate young adults about the dangers of substance misuse the Partnership for Health Drug-Free Task Force collaborated with the Hope Club at Raritan Valley Community College in Trivia Tuesday. Each Tuesday young adults from Hunterdon and Somerset Counties were invited to participate in an online trivia game. The games included “fun” trivia long with information about substance misuse. Topics included opioids, prescription drugs, underage drinking, and vaping/smoking. On average, nearly 20 students were reached each week with this important information.
