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March 23rd Coalition Meeting: Substance Abuse Prevention in our Schools

Posted on by scott

March Coalition Meeting: Prevention in our Schools.

Greater Falls Connections will be hosting their monthly coalition meeting from 12-1:00pm on Friday, March 23 at Parks Place Community Center on 44 School St in Bellows Falls with staff members from Windham Northeast Supervisory Union. The topic of this month’s meeting is school-based substance abuse prevention, which will be presented by Heather Waryas, the Student Assistance Program Coordinator, and Orianna Baez, Director of the AIM Afterschool & Summer Program. Come and hear about how the schools are making a positive impact on our youth.

The monthly coalition meetings for Greater Falls Connections provide informative presentations on issues related to substance abuse prevention and updates on our work. Come learn, share, and be part of community-oriented solutions. Meetings are open to everyone. Lunch will be provided. Prevention through inspiration!

June Coalition Meeting

Posted on by scott

Join us on June 23 from 12-1:30pm at Parks Place for the monthly coalition meetings for Greater Falls Connections. This month’s topic is Trauma & Prevention. Voting for the candidates for the coalition board will take place, along with amendments to the coalition bylaws. Updates on our work will be provided. Come learn, share, and be part of community-oriented solutions. Meetings are open to everyone. Lunch will be provided. Prevention through Inspiration!

March Coalition Meeting: Highlights from DC Visit

Posted on by scott

Greater Falls Connections will host the monthly coalition meeting from 12-1:30pm on Friday, March 24 at Parks Place Community Center on 44 School St in Bellows Falls. Highlights and ideas will be shared from a recent visit to Washington, DC, where two coalition members attended a national leadership forum. There will also be an update on this year’s Kick Butts Day activities. Kick Butts Day is a nationwide initiative that empowers student advocates to lead the effort to stop youth tobacco use. Lunch and good company will be provided at the meeting. Prevention through Inspiration!

Make a Fresh Start for the New Year

Posted on by scott

Smoking Quit Classes Are Coming to Bellows Falls. Just in time for those New Year’s resolutions, Greater Falls Connections (GFC) and Springfield Medical Care Systems are partnering to provide tobacco cessation classes in Bellows Falls. The program consists of 4 weekly one-hour sessions, which will cover a variety of topics related to quitting smoking. Participants will learn about:

  • How to beat the addiction to nicotine
  • Skills for coping with cravings
  • Medication and effective approaches to quitting

Participants will also receive:

  • Counseling to build problem-solving skills
  • Moral support from a VT Quit Partner
  • Access to nicotine replacement therapy

The classes will run in January at Parks Place in Bellows Falls, with date and time to be determined. Pre-registration is required. In order to register, contact Scott Sharland at 802-463-9927 ext. 213 or send an email to scott AT greaterfallsconnections.org. Please select a valid formMicrosoft Word - Jan2015 Quit Classes FACT.docx

Park-a-Palooza 3

Park-a-Palooza 3

Posted on by Neil Allen

Park-a-Palooza 3
Saturday, June 28. Noon-5pm
Central Elementary School Park
Bellows Falls, VT

In it’s third year, Park-a-Palooza is all about good ol’ fashion family fun…connecting with neighbors, old school games, tasty food and good laughs. This is what community looks like!

Join us starting at Noon at the Central Elementary Playground on School St. Interested in helping to organize? Contact Deb Witkus at 802.463.9927 ext 212.

RSVP to our Facebook event Here.

Free Tobacco Cessation Classes

Free Tobacco Cessation Classes

Posted on by Neil Allen

Tobacco Cessation Classes
Wednesday, February 19. 12:30pm-1:30pm
Parks Place
44 School St.
Bellows Falls

Congratulations on taking your first step towards being a quitter! This FREE, 4-week class runs every Wednesday from 12:30pm-1:30pm starting Wednesday, February 19th.

Learn useful tips, tools and tricks to quit smoking and stay quit. Terri Kneipp, a Vermont Quit Partner, will lead each class. By working with a Vermont Quit Partner, you can have free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), like gum and patches or lozenges shipped directly to your home. When you combine nicotine replacements, like gum or patches, with the support of a Vermont Quit Partner, your chances of a successful quit double.

The classes are FREE, but you must pre-register. To register, call Terri at 802.251.8456.

For more information and other ways to quit smoking, go to 802Quits.org.

 

Community Connection Workshop-Part 2

Community Connection Workshop-Part 2

Posted on by Neil Allen

Community Connection Workshop-Part 2
Monday, March 31. 1:00pm-3:30pm
Bellows Falls Union High School
Westminster, VT

**Update** Wow! We’ve had an amazing response and the workshop is now completely full! So, sadly, registration is now closed. If you would like to be put on the waiting list, please call Chad at 802.463.9927 ext 210**

Part 2 of this two-part workshop.This creative and participatory workshop will enhance our ability to achieve greater community connection, improved substance prevention, and increased access and affordability of food. Participation in Part 1 is strongly encouraged.

If you would like to participate in both sessions (March 3rd and 31st) and would like to be added to the waiting list, contact Chad Simmons at 802.463.9927 ext 210. We highly encourage participants attend both parts.

What’s this workshop all about? Participants will…

  • have a shared understanding of people living and working in this community by identifying assumptions that limit our work, and assets that can build our work.
  • have language, skills and direction to address risk and protective factors that contribute to problems at the community level and apply the concepts to our respective work, family and social networks.
  • be able to articulate root causes of substance abuse, hunger, and health disparities, and will have a plan for how to address those causes.
  • develop relationships that enhance collaboration built on trust, respect and shared decision making.

The workshop is FREE and all are welcome. Food and childcare will be provided.

We will release the specific times and locations by early February. Please contact Chad for more details. chad@greaterfallsconnections.org or 802.463.9927 ext 210.

This workshop is being facilitated by Angela Berkfield, Director of ACT For Social Justice.