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K9 Kora was deployed to search lockers and classrooms for drug contraband at Webster County High School, Tech School, and Middle School today. Kora was successful in assisting the recovery of a marijuana (THC) vape pen while in the Tech School!

We look forward to the continued partnership between The Webster County Sheriff’s Office and The Webster County School System in efforts to keep the students and staff safe!

Webster County ASAP–DFC in partnership with Webster County Sheriff’s Office and Webster County Schools are pleased to announce the launch of a new reporting system. In line with the 1WC initiative, the 2gether We Can Make a Difference tip system is an online platform where community members, parents, and students can report suspicious or concerning behavior anonymously. That information will be screened and then addressed by the appropriate agency within the county. By scanning the QR code, the user will be given a form that can be filled out to report drug activity, criminal behavior, serious mental health issues, and threats to safety. No personal information is collected so the reporter will remain anonymous.

This tip system is not an emergency reporting system. 911 for emergency requests and 988 for mental health emergency requests should still be utilized as the tip system is monitored only during business hours. It is our hope that by having a way to anonymously report suspicious activity or concerns in the community, that citizens will feel more comfortable sharing those concerns. Community participation is crucial to addressing substance misuse, mental health, safety, and social well being in Webster County.

K9 Kora and her handler, Deputy Eric Elder, visited Sebree, Dixon, and Clay Elementary Schools. Students got the opportunity to meet Kora and ask questions about her.

Narcan training was held at the Extension Office in Dixon on January 20th. Training information was provided by RVBH and Green River Health Department. All participants were provided a dose of Narcan.

Lunch and Learn Presentations are back and have been well attended this year. On January 6th, Tyler Braden spoke about his story and how substance misuse by a parent has affected him. On February 10th, RVBH Mobile Crisis Team shared information about their services and how to access them with the community. Both events were well attended.

Webster County High School Youth Council/True Blue Crew traveled to all four elementary schools in the county on Monday to share the message of the importance of remaining alcohol, drug, and tobacco free with the youth at those schools.  They presented skits that highlighted good decision making and showed the consequences of making poor choices.  Also participating in the presentations was Providence Police Officer Eric Elder and his new partner Kora, a drug detection K-9.  The Youth Council ended the day by volunteering their time assisting with WCMS after school program– Apex’s Creepy Carnival. 

Melea Ramin began her employment as the WC KY-ASAP Drug Free Communities Coordinator on Monday, October 3, 2022. Melea comes to the position with 21 years of community work in the field of child protection and 5 years serving on the KY-ASAP Coalition.

Recently, Webster County KY-ASAP Coalition provided Narcan Nasal Spray to all Webster County Schools and the WC Athletic Department. Though we hope they never have a need for Narcan, they are prepared in the event a student or visitor collapses from an overdose.

Be Vape Free: Just the Facts Virtual Field Trip: A real-world virtual learning opportunity to get the facts on the vaping epidemic. (Running time: 19 minutes, 50 seconds)
https://www.bevapefree.org/just-the-facts-vft/

The River Valley Regional Prevention Center recently launched the No More Boxes Campaign to highlight positive youth messages and to promote mental health and substance abuse prevention. Youth from the seven counties served by River Valley participated in the production. Our very own, Raygan Ranes, is the Webster County participant.

RiverValley Behavioral Health launches #NoMoreBoxes Campaign (14news.com)

RiverValley Behavioral Health launches #NoMoreBoxes CampaignThe organization released a video addressing the misconception that all teens are involved in drug abuse.www.14news.com

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Recently, Law Enforcement sector members of the Webster County KY-ASAP Coalition have been busy in the community educating youth. Sebree Police Chief William “Billy” Braden gathered community members in May 2022 to develop a Youth Outreach Program to serve Sebree youth, ages 10-15. Gabriel Gonzalez, WC College True Blue Crew Member, was employed by the city as the part-time summer Coordinator to oversee the implementation of the program. Youth participate in community service and recreational activities.

During June, Chief Braden spoke with students attending summer camp at Sebree Elementary school.

Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue Coalition developed the Celebrate FREE campaign in 2019 to encourage youth and their families to enjoy their accomplishments substance-free. Prom, Senior Night, and Graduation are milestone events that should be celebrated safely.

Parents, monitor gatherings to assure your youth are free of unhealthy and illegal substances. The Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue Drug Free Communities Coalition would like to remind adults that alcohol possession and/or consumption is illegal for anyone under the age of 21.

Katie Mae was a little girl from Daviess County, Kentucky. Katie died on December 20, 2016. Katie’s story is one every parent should watch.

If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, reach out. Treatment is available and affordable in our community.

The True Blue Crew has been busy with CADCA Forum, Lunch and Learns, grant writing, and working with the Youth True Blue Crew. Here are some of the highlights:

Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue Coalition will have a table of information for parents on talking to their children about substances and being “TRUE BLUE” (of good character.)

The WC Coalition sponsored the first of three Lunch and Learns in a series on Friday, February 25. The Coalition partnered with the Webster County Senior Center, Webster County Extension Office, and Webster County EDC IDA to provide lunch and a training session. The session presenters were Melea Ramin and Billy Braden presenting on the topic of Families vs. Drugs in our community. To RSVP for the March 4 and/or March 11 events email donna.bumpus@webster.kyschools.us.

See the flyer below for the upcoming Lunch and Learns:

The TRUE BLUE Character Counts Crew met at Dixon Elementary on September 17, 2021. Students from the 6th grade participated in team building and character building games and activities.

The Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue Coalition, YES Youth Service Center, and the Webster County Extension Agents collaborated to provide the annual youth training on August 10, 2021. The training included skill building/enhancement in teamwork, strategic planning, confidentiality, and substance misuse education.

Webster County High School students, grades 9-12, have the opportunity to apply for the Youth Council each May for the upcoming school year. The students who are selected become a part of the YES (Youth Experiencing Success) Youth Council and serve as the Executive Crew for the Webster County High School True Blue Crew.

The Executive Crew will be inviting youth from the high school to join their Youth Coalition Prevention efforts throughout the school year. Students who are interested in participating in the True Blue Crew should contact an executive crew member, Courtney Menser, or Donna Bumpus,

Earlier this month, a few of the TRUE BLUE Crew members met to learn the Chatter 4 Change podcasting process. The graduating seniors worked with younger students to provide a smooth transition for the new podcast crew. In addition to the podcast training, True Blue Crew members made Substance Prevention PSAs. Chatter 4 Change podcasts will return in late July after our crew enjoys a short summer break.

The past year has taught us that we can do successful prevention work even in times of a global pandemic. This year the Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue Coalition was unable to implement some of the traditional prevention programs, so the program committee went to work to alter the plans. Since the Mini TLC was cancelled due to the event being a large group activity, the ASAP board collaborated with the middle school to implement a Mini Mini TLC with Hello WCMS in small groups. The Mini Mini TLC was held at the football field and in the middle school gym where 6th grade students were able to participate in character building, decision making, and team building activities with the leadership of the YES Youth Council True Blue Crew and the Webster County Extension Staff. (One underlying objective in ALL the Webster County True Blue Crew’s activities is that younger students see the high school crew have an abundance amount of fun without using substances — and what a FUN day!)

Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue Coalition developed the Celebrate FREE campaign in 2019 to encourage youth and their families to enjoy their accomplishments substance-free. Prom, Senior Night, Graduation are milestone events that should be celebrated safely. Parents, monitor gatherings to assure your youth are free of unhealthy and illegal substances. The Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue Drug Free Communities program would like to remind adults that alcohol possession and/or consumption is illegal for anyone under the age of 21.

The 2021 Celebrate FREE campaign is sponsored by United Community Bank.

In Webster County, prescription medications may be taken to the following permanent locations:

Dixon Drug Store – Monday-Friday, 9:00-5:00

Clay Drug Store – Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00, Saturday, 9:00-12:00

Bell’s Drug Store (Sebree) – Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00

Thrifty Pharmacy (Providence) – Monday-Friday 8:30-5:30, Saturday 8:30-12:00

Providence Police Department – Monday-Friday, 9:00-5:00

Webster County Sheriff’s Department

Don’t let others misuse unused prescription medications from your home!

https://www.takedowntobacco.org/about

Join the Roast tonight at 6:00 CST at https://www.takedowntobacco.org/

The first day of each month is TRUE BLUE Day when we encourage all Webster County residents to wear royal blue in support of a drug free community.

Some background information — Webster County KY-ASAP was funded in 2002 through the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. The key concept for KY-ASAP is changing policy around substance misuse. True Blue Drug Free Communities is in year 4 of the 5 year federal grant that promotes substance free living for all youth. The True Blue concept is around the notion that if youth are true to their family, faith, school, community, and/or future they will be less likely to experiment with substances. True Blue implemented Character Counts curriculum in all Webster County schools grades K-12 to better equip students to make positive choices and to be of good character.

Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue Drug Free Communities funds substance prevention and education programs in the local schools and community such as: Mini Teen Leadership Conference for 6th grade students, 5th grade Health Fair, Truth and Consequences for 8th grade students, Project Northland Slick Tracy for 6th graders, Community Town Hall meetings, various trainings/Lunch and Learns, supports law enforcement, supports treatment, hosts Chatter 4 Change podcast, and supports the True Blue Youth Crews in grades 4-6, 7-8, 9-12, and early college.

To learn more about the Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue Drug Free Communities Coalition contact our coordinator at donna.bumpus@webster.kyschools.us.

Though meetings have looked different, Webster County KY-ASAP Coalition has continue to meet during the Covid-19 pandemic. Starting in May, the Coalition’s bi-monthly meeting moved to Zoom. Virtual meetings have continued with both in-person and Zoom being offered for the November meeting. With the surge in cases locally, the January meeting was via Zoom only.

Just a few additional adaptations the coalition has made: online trainings for teachers and youth instead of in-person, Zoom meetings for Youth True Blue Crew members, Chatter 4 Change podcast providing information and support to youth, education provided to parents through handouts with food deliveries/pick-ups, faith-based meetings to collaborate resources, social media updates, Character Counts through Google classrooms.

A few True Blue activities during the pandemic:

For more than 40 years, the American Cancer Society has hosted the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November.  The Great American Smokeout is an opportunity for people who smoke to commit to healthy, smoke -free lives – not just for a day, but year round. The Great American Smokeout provides an opportunity for individuals, community groups, businesses, health care providers, and others to encourage people to use the date to make a plan to quit, or plan in advance and initiate a smoking cessation plan on the day of the event. The Great American Smokeout event challenges people to stop smoking and helps people learn about the many tools they can use to help them quit and stay quit.

For more information visit: https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/great-american-smokeout.html

Webster County Residents may take unused prescription medications to the following locations during regular business hours:

Clay Drug Store, Clay

Dixon Drug Store, Dixon

Bell’s Drug Store, Sebree

Thrifty Pharmacy, Providence

Providence Police Department

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Source: Ep. 4- A Dose of Prevention

The Dose of Prevention Challenge is a CADCA sponsored opportunity for coalitions to highlight their work during National Medicine Abuse Month each October. WC True Blue’s Chatter 4 Change Podcast Episode 4 is dedicated to prescription and Over-the-counter medicine misuse with guest speaker, Trina, a local pharmacist and the mother of Youth True Blue Crew Member and Podcaster Ryan. Check out this episode and more at Chatter 4 Change on Podbean or click the above link.

https://wctrueblue.podbean.com/e/pilot-1603240182/

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) selected School Sector Engagement as a priority focus area this year.  Site visits were planned to allow researchers to provide detailed examples to ONDCP regarding the type of work that some DFC coalitions are doing and offer the chance to learn from the people who are doing coalition work—about how coalitions operate, their challenges and successes, the strategies used to accomplish missions, and lessons that can be shared with other DFC-funded coalitions.

In late July, Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue DFC was contacted by the National DFC Research Team announcing the coalition’s selection as a virtual site visit location. The Research team selected True Blue based on information submitted in recent Progress Reports. The virtual site visit occurred during September with five focus groups of youth TB Crew members, parents, community stakeholders, coalition members, and school administrators; and extensive interviews with DFC staff and coalition leaders. Over the next few months, the Research team will complete data analysis and written dissertation to share with coalitions across the United States.

A few memories of the focus groups:

CLICK the link below for information on talking with college students about the risks of drinking

2020 NIAAA Back to College Fact Sheet

Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue DFC was represented at CADCA Mid-year for the third year. This year, Melea Ramin, Coalition Chairperson, Melissa Wolfe, Courtney Menser, Carolyn Sholar, Dianne McFarling, Caroline Denham, and Donna Bumpus attended CADCA’s virtual institute. Participants had the opportunity to view approximately 80 training sessions.

Webster County Ky-ASAP True Blue DFC collaborated with River Valley Prevention Center to provide TOO GOOD FOR DRUGS training (via ZOOM) for a group of teachers on August 12, 2020. Webster County Schools will implement this program in grades K-4 initially, adding additional grades later in the school year.

WASHINGTON – With families encouraged to stay at home due to the nationwide health crisis, the Drug Enforcement Administration is asking Americans to keep prescription medications safe and secure until they can properly dispose of them.

The Secure Your Meds awareness campaign addresses a vital public safety and health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. The campaign also prompts families to discuss the issue of controlled prescription drug abuse.

“Protecting the health and safety of our communities is DEA’s top priority, especially during the unprecedented public health emergency,” said DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. “With Americans at home, families need to be even more vigilant and keep prescription medications safe, secure, and out of reach of children and others in the household.”

DEA holds its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day twice a year. However, because of the current nationwide coronavirus pandemic, DEA postponed the 2020 Spring Take Back Day, originally scheduled for April 25, 2020. DEA will reschedule Take Back day for a date shortly after the health crisis recedes and national emergency guidelines are lifted.

In the meantime, DEA wants to remind Americans to clean out their medicine cabinets and secure unused, unwanted, and expired prescription medications for the next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, on a date to be determined.

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Once the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifts restrictions, DEA will reschedule Take Back Day. More information on the Secure Your Meds campaign and Take Back Day is available at http://www.DEATakeBack.com.

Webster County KY-ASAP has partnered with the Dixon Drug Store to provide a drive-thru drop-off location for unused medications during regular store hours. Unused prescription medications may also be returned to Clay Drug Store during regular business hours.

Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue DFC and Webster County Board of Education developed a plan in 2017 to implement Character Counts for all students, grades K-12.  Character Counts is framework for developing positive character traits and may be implemented in schools, homes, and communities.

For more information and Character Counts activities visit charactercounts.org or on Facebook @CharacterCounts.

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week is March 30-April 3, 2020. During the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic when so many families are in self-isolation is the perfect time to start talking with your children about family expectations around alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Children need clear set guidelines.

For tips on how to talk with your children visit:

https://teens.drugabuse.gov/parents

 

 

March 10-12, 2020, Lily Martin, Raygan Ranes, and Seth Ranes attended the Kentucky Dover Youth2Youth Training in Louisville. Youth representing each Regional Prevention Center in Kentucky were asked to attend this training.  The students were trained in Youth Recruitment, Policy Change, Presentation Skills, and Developing Community awareness and Media Campaigns.

Lily, Raygan, and Seth are members of the YES Youth Council and the WC True Blue Crew. They will collaborate with Dianne McFarling, River Valley Prevention Center Director, and Cora Cain, River Valley Youth Empowerment Prevention Specialist, to train Western Kentucky youth.  River Valley Regional Prevention Center serves Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union, and Webster.  Webster County middle and elementary True Blue Crew members will also be trained using the Youth2Youth Toolkit.

Please join the Webster County True Blue Crew in welcoming home Tiffany Cole Hall who will be our guest speaker for the next True Blue Community training on March 25.

WC True Blue was represented at the annual CADCA Forum, February 2-6, 2020, by Melea Ramin, Coalition Chairperson, and Donna Bumpus, DFC Coordinator.  Participants attended workshops on Youth Vaping; Gen-Z Marketing: Engaging the next Generation; Impacts of Marijuana Legalization; Addressing the Opioid Crisis in Rural Communities; Building Partnerships with Law Enforcement; and Exploring the Intersections of Opioids, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Suicide.

While attending the conference, WC True Blue was recognized as Runners Up for the National Dose of Prevention Award. The Dose of Prevention Award is sponsored by the Consumer Healthcare products Association (CHPA) and CADCA, this award recognizes member coalitions that have helped raise awareness about the dangers of over-the-counter cough medicine misuse and prescription drug misuses in their community during National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month in October, 2019.