Fairfield CARES members have been busy in the community. Take a look at what we have been up to! |
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The year started with the Fairfield CARES Coalition receiving the Drug Free Communities grant from the CDC, a $125,000/yr grant for five years to focus on preventing and reducing youth alcohol and marijuana/cannabis use. Fairfield Public Schools is the grant’s fiscal agent. Members of the coalition announced the grant award to the Fairfield Board of Education in the fall. |
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Fairfield CARES at the Chamber's Harvest Festival |
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At the Chamber’s Harvest Festival, members of Fairfield CARES and the Fairfield CARES Youth Committee engaged younger youth in fun activities to teach the importance of staying away from drugs and alcohol, get lots of exercise, eat a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep – all ways to live a healthy life. |
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One of the key messages that Fairfield CARES sends to parents is “you have AMAZING influence on your kids,” so talk to them about substance use. Have conversations, not confrontations. On Fairfield CARES’ website, "Talk. They Hear You" is a terrific resource from SAMHSA to help parents start those conversations. Our website is filled with helpful resources for parents. |
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Steered Straight Presentation |
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Educating on the risks of alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, tobacco, vaping etc is a big part of what Fairfield CARES does. Mike DeLeon from Steered Straight talked to Fairfield high school students about how alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine came close to destroying his life. |
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Let's Mention Prevention Fairfield CARES appreciates its community partners to help promote prevention initiatives. A key group of community partners are Fairfield’s package stores. Between December 15th and January 31st, 18 package stores participated once again in the “Let’s Mention Prevention Underage Drinking” initiative. The package stores distributed information on the risks of underage drinking to consumers and “Liquor Lock” stickers to wrap around wine and liquor bottles to discourage underage youth, and to encourage conversations between parents and youth about underage drinking. |
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De-Stressing During Midterms Often youth will turn to alcohol or marijuana/cannabis to feel better, to deal with stress or anxiety. As a youth substance prevention coalition, helping youth manage their stress has been an important part of Fairfield CARES’ work, particularly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Fairfield CARES arranged to have Lauren Lanhan from Inspire, Inc who is also a certified yoga instructor, to teach meditation and a few yoga moves to high schoolers at the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club. The FCYC group helped students at Ludlowe High School to de-stress during mid-terms by providing the calming activity of coloring, yes, coloring. |
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Fairfield CARES Youth Committee Radio Interviews Recently, seven members of FCYC were interviewed John Voket, the host of “For the People”, the award winning public affairs program on Connoisseur Media (think WEBE 108, STAR 99.9, 95.9 The Fox, among others) and shared why they choose not to use alcohol or drugs, and reiterated the importance of having” open and honest conversations” with their kids. Thank you Fairfield Library for the use of your Memorial Room. |
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Fairfield CARES Youth Committee Teaching About the Dangers of Vaping |
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Members of the Fairfield CARES Youth Committee (FCYC) taught middle school youth at the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club about the dangers of vaping nicotine and how the tobacco industry entices youth with fruit flavored vapes like mango, strawberry or grape name a few. The vapes contain a high degree of nicotine, which is powerfully addictive, particular to the adolescent brain, which is so susceptible to substance addiction since it is not fully developed until the age of 25 or 26. To reinforce the message that vaping is only putting poisons into your body, the Wakeman middle school youth made posters with anti-vaping messages. The posters are on the walls at Wakeman to remind youth of vapes’ harmful effects. (Photos below) |
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Fairfield County Giving Day is Tomorrow! February 24, 2022 |
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Prevention in Action – that is what Fairfield CARES is all about. While grants cover much of our operating budget, they do not cover all expenses. Fairfield CARES needs your financial support to continue our active outreach in the community. Please consider showing your support for Fairfield CARES on Giving Day. Follow the link below on February 24th to make a donation. THANK YOU! |
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