“A Celebration of Possibility” is the theme National Prevention Week (NPW) 2024, to be held May 12 – 18, with events statewide including a special observance at the Connecticut Science Center next Sunday.
In addition to the science center event, the Regional Behavioral Heath Action Organizations (RBHAOs) and Local Prevention Councils (LPCs) around the state are holding their own activities to celebrate the impact of prevention and promote mental health.
National Prevention Week is designed to increase public awareness of, and action around, mental health and/or substance use disorders.
The National Prevention Week statewide (rain-or-shine) event will take place at the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford on Sunday, May 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. , in conjunction with the Science Center’s “Make it Grow” program.
Prevention professionals, state and local leaders, and community-based prevention organizations, including the Change the Script resource van, and local mascots, including the CT Prevention Mascot, Starfish Stella, are scheduled for attendance.
Local youth performances are also planned, and four books written and signed by Laurel Lorenzini will be available for parents who sign up for a family newsletter. Additionally, through a unique poster project, selected prevention organizations will showcase their organization’s prevention project, campaign, or initiative.
“National Prevention Week provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase the work of communities and organizations across Connecticut and to highlight how they are preventing substance use and promoting positive mental health,” said Judith Stonger, vice president of Prevention, Wellness and Recovery at Wheeler Health, in a release announcing the annual observation.
“The statewide event, especially, brings together all aspects of the prevention community so that we can learn, grow, and continue to work collaboratively to change lives and behaviors.”
NPW in Connecticut is coordinated by a Planning Committee that is led by Wheeler’s Connecticut Clearinghouse and includes: the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Connecticut Clearinghouse, CT Council on Problem Gambling, The Governor’s Prevention Partnership (GPP), New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (NEHIDTA), the Prevention Training and Technical Assistance Service Center (TTASC), Regional Behavioral Health Action Organizations (RBHAOs), and Local Prevention Councils and other coalitions serving Connecticut communities.
For more information, please visit: www.ctclearinghouse.org/npw/.
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