UNICOI COUNTY PREVENTION COALITION
Our Work
This is our Project and Program page. These programs are implemented into the community to educate and prevent underage substance abuse and misuse among youth. Our overall goals are to collaborate with community and faith-based organizations to decrease substance use in our county and provide resources for those in recovery and treatment.
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This program partners with Clinchfield Drug, Roller Pharmacy, Neighborhood Service Center, CHIPS, McKinney Insurance, Frontier Health, Dry Creek Medical, Peterson Family Healthcare, CVS, Unicoi Animal Hospital, Unicoi County Animal Shelter, and Urgent Care to educate the public about medication security. The program provides education materials and a lock box for medications to those participating in the program. Our community also has three medication drop box locations, Erwin Town Hall, Unicoi County Sheriff's department and Town of Unicoi police department.
We have implemented Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence evidence- based program at all Unicoi County elementary schools. LEAD is taught by our school counselors.
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H.O.P.E. Mentoring
H.O.P.E. mentoring offers peer-to-peer mentoring designed for youth to have someone they can learn from. Our mentors are juniors and seniors in high school who take the lead in supporting a middle school student through an ongoing, one-to-one relationship.
Our DFC grant provides INDEPTH Vaping education, Johnny's ambassadors and N-O-T on tobacco classes to Middle and High School students.
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The coalition partnered with TN Voices for free Parenting Classes in the past. We are now working towards offering the classes at the coalition. These classes focus on parents and youth and work on communication skills for families, building resiliency and positive reinforcement in youth.
Building Bonds
Building Bonds, previously known as, Grand Connections is a partnership between the coalition, UT Extension and community members raising kids. Building Bonds focuses on building family bonds.
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Christy Smith Director educates Miss Laws and Mrs. Bagby’s 6th grade classes at the Unicoi County Middle School during the school year. She partners with UT Extension to implement Health Rocks, a substance abuse curriculum which inspires youth to live drug free. The program teaches life skills which include making healthy life choices, building healthy relationships, self-responsibility, problem-solving, stress management, peer pressure, anti-bullying techniques, teamwork and other skills needed to deflect drug use. Students participate through group activities and handouts. Christy provides them with educational materials for themselves and their families, along with teen specific educational websites on youth advocacy, involvement, and know the facts on teen drug use and abuse. She educates 150 students per session.
The vision of the Tennessee Alliance for Drug Endangered Children is that every child in Tennessee has the opportunity to experience a safe and healthy childhood free from the use of drugs and the effects of drug exposure.
If you suspect a child is drug-endangered, contact 1-877-866-6384, or to report suspected child abuse and neglect, contact the Tennessee Department of Children's Services at 1-877-237-0004. In case of an emergency or life-threatening situation, call 911.
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SADD was founded on the simple philosophy that young people, empowered to help each other, are the most effective force in prevention.
If you are interested in donating to the resource closets click here:
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Unicoi County Unites
Unicoi County Unites Vision: To create a safe and healthy Unicoi County.
Mission: Unicoi County Unites acts as an organization whose purpose is to address health issues of significance, resource availability and allocation, and to develop and implement effective intervention and environmental strategies that address health equity and improve health outcomes.
Unicoi County Unites Application (google.com)
Unicoi County Unites Agenda Items/Updates/Event (google.com)
Peer Recovery Support Group
Peer Recovery empowers people living with substance use disorder challenges to receive help from someone who's "been there". The Peer Recovery Support Group will be led by Megan Edens. Megan is the SOR Coordinator at UC Prevention Coalition. She is currently working towards becoming a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and has been in recovery for 5 years.
For more information contact:
Megan Edens| coordinatoredens@gmail.com| 1-833-803-6663 ext. 2
