News
Coalitions in Action: Wiping Out Prescription Drug Abuse 
in Oakland County, Michigan
        
"They don't start with a needle in the arm, but they start somewhere." Those are the haunting but truthful words of Julie Brenner, executive director of the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities (ACHC), an umbrella organization of soon-to-be 16 coalitions spanning across Oakland County, Michigan. The community is experiencing a heroin and prescription drug epidemic.

"It's necessary to start foundationally and figure out what's really going on around here," Brenner explained. "That's how the opioid task force came about. You have to know the warning signs, the risk factors and how to talk to your kid about it. The movement now is to be part of the solution. Giving knowledge is really important to us."

That knowledge came in the form of a comprehensive toolkit just launched last month, written especially for parents, grandparents and caregivers about preventing opioid abuse before it starts. It is chock full of facts, resources and information about how prescription drug abuse starts, signs to recognize abuse, how to start a conversation with your teen and where to go to get help, if needed.

The toolkit is an online resource and the result of a collaborative effort between ACHC, the Oakland County Community Health Authority , the Oakland County Health Department and the local sheriff's office.

It was launched at a special event held at Oakland University, in conjunction with the Oakland University Criminal Justice Department - specifically for the target market of 18-25 year-olds, those who are most prone to opioid misuse. About 150 people attended, representing all sectors of the community, but mostly youth. Afterwards, everyone was given a USB drive with a PowerPoint presentation and the toolkit on it, in the hopes of spreading the word even further.
Waterford Coalition for Youth participates in
"Shop with a Hero" Event
The Waterford Township Police and Fire Departments, in collaboration with Meijer and the Waterford Coalition for Youth was able to make the 26th year of "Shop with a Hero" another great success for 70 children in need on December 13.  Even Mr. and Mrs. Claus were there!
 Read the full article in the Oakland Press
Holly Area Community Coalition receives mini-grant
The Holly Area Community Coalition, Youth Action Board at Holly High School was recently awarded a mini-grant from the Michigan State Police. The Strive for a Safe Drive campaign is a teen driving initiative aimed at reducing serious traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities among Michigan's most inexperienced drivers - teens. It is presented by AAA Michigan, Ford Driving Skills for Life and the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.  The teens will develop a campaign addressing the dangers of distracted driving, which will be implemented at Holly High School, as well as through media and community messaging. The campaign will take place in late January and early February.
Events


Changing the Face of Addiction

 

ACHC Oakland County FAN
Upcoming Meetings

 

  • South Central (Novi, Farmington, Southfield, West Bloomfield, and surrounding cities):
    1st Friday of every month Woodside Bible Church, 28301 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills - 7:00-8:30pm
     
  • North East (Oxford, Lake Orion, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, and surrounding cities):
    2nd Thursday of every month Orion Township Library, 825 Joslyn Road, Lake Orion - 6:30-8:30pm
     
  • South East (Troy, Clawson, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Royal Oak, Berkley and
    surrounding cities):
    3rd Monday of every month, Clawson Municipal Building, 425 N. Main Street, Clawson - 7:00-9:00pm
     
  • South West (South Lyon, Milford, Wixom, Walled Lake, Commerce, and surrounding cities):
    3rd Thursday of every month, New Hudson United Methodist Church - 56730 Grand River Avenue - 6:30-8:30pm
     
  • Central (Waterford, Pontiac, White Lake, Clarkston and surrounding cities):
    Launching February 2, 2015 Covert Center, 1150 Scott Lake Road, Waterford 7:00-9:00pm
For more information, contact Tracy Chirikas

Holly Area Community Coalition

Head to Holly for Free Movie Night

Saturday, December 20, 2014
1:00 p.m.  and  6:00 p.m.
Join the Holly Area Community Coalition this Saturday for a FREE Holiday Movie at the Karl Richter Community Center Auditorium....a great way to kick-off your Holiday Break!

Troy Community Coalition Presents
7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens Leadership Training
December 19, 22, and 23   

Members of the Troy Community Coalition will present the "7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" leadership training to students at Troy High School. The training focuses on 7 healthy habits to ensure positive behavior and success. The training focuses on both physical and psychological health, including the negative effects of underage drinking, drug use and smoking. Video clips, skits and activities are all part of the training. Students are asked to write their own mission statements and set personal goals. At the end of the training, students receive a certificate of completion.  



North Oakland Community Coalition to host
5th Annual Prayer Breakfast
Saturday, January 10, 2015  9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  Featuring keynote speaker, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard. The event will be at the  

Scripps Mansion at 1601 Joslyn Rd. in Lake Orion.

All are welcome!   


Birmingham Bloomfield Community Coalition
and the Youth Action Board
Battle of the Bands
Friday, January 16, 2015
Contact Kelly Michaud for more information  


North Oakland Community Coalition Hosts
Drugs 101

Thursday, January 15, 2014 - 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

Drugs 101 is an educational program for adults to learn the signs, symptoms and current trends of teen drug usage.The program will be held at: Scripps Middle School, 385 East Scripps Rd, Lake Orion

Please come early as a highlight of the program is a mock teen bedroom for you to observe and attempt to identify the obvious and not-so-obvious signs of teen drug use.

 

The program is open for all adults: Parents, Grand Parents, Guardians, Teachers, Administrators, Coaches, Scout Leaders, Religious Leaders - any adult concerned about youth.

 

Register for this program

Save the date...and some room...for the 17th AnnualTaste of Waterford
We're off to see the Wizard!  The Waterford Coalition for Youth invites the community to Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City and join them at the 17th Annual TASTE OF WATERFORD!
Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 26, 2014 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Oakland Schools Conference Center, 2111 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford. 


Keep Kids Safe, Keep Kids Healthy
We could use YOUR help in funding essential prevention programs to help keep the kids of Oakland County safe and healthy! Please consider an end-of-the-year donation. 
Click here to go to our GoFundMe fundraising site
The ACHC is tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization. Thank
you for your support!

Youth Survey
Parents, grandparents, and guardians of students from 6th through 12th grade in Oakland County, Michigan, please share this survey with your kids.  It asks important questions about alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs.  All information will remain entirely anonymous and will assist the ACHC in program development. Please ask them to answer honestly.
For a full list of the 15 coalitions in Oakland County and our partnerships,
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