January WCCC Newsletter

January 2023

We are beyond excited to share all of the upcoming events, recent activities and news from Waunakee Community Cares Coalition. Our work is focused on keeping Waunakee healthy and resilient.  We do this by engaging, empowering, and educating our community in the spaces of alcohol, drug, & nicotine prevention, as well as mental health. In our monthly update, we will offer content, ideas and action steps to engage in this impactful work. Each month will bring strategies and ideas on how to keep Waunakee healthy and resilient.  We hope to grow a community of like-minded members to create a better place for us all to live healthy, love abundantly and leave healthy legacies.
 
Much gratitude, WCCC Team

Welcome to 2023!! We have so much to be thankful for as we reflect back on 2022 and head into the new year.  Our year has been filled with community engagement, youth empowerment, education, and above all, IMPACT.  We are hopeful that the year ahead will be as vibrant as the year past and look forward to engaging you all on the journey!
 
This month we are focusing on our Goals for 2023.  Over the past several months we have been facilitating small and large group visioning sessions with our members, partners, and community.  We shared the data that came out of our various surveys and focus groups and then had a chance to collaborate on our vision for the future around goals and strategies. As we move into 2023, the WCCC will be focusing in on the following:
 
(1) Creating CONNECTIONS & BELONGING in our schools and in our community
(2) DECREASING substance (alcohol/vaping) in our schools
(3) Supporting positive MENTAL HEALTH strategies in our community
(4) DECREASING violence and bullying in our schools
 
Our team is busy taking all of the insight and wisdom gathered from our community visioning sessions and putting it into a plan of work for the WCCC this upcoming year.  We will be reaching out to our partners and members to find out how they might want to assist us with these robust goals.  TOGETHER we will work to keep Waunakee healthy and resilient in 2023.  
 
Wishing you health, resiliency, and the magic found in connection.  May the year ahead be filled with love and joy! Thanks for ENGAGING in our work!

Each month the WCCC plans to showcase one of our amazing partners that are doing impactful work and serving our community in our theme for the month. This month we want to thank all of the partners that we have had the opportunity to collaborate with this year! 

Learn More

Thank you to all our amazing partners and to those who we had the honor of featuring in the newsletter this past year! We look forward to continuing to collaborate this coming year. All the work we do could not be done without our partners. We are better together! A reminder that if you would ever like to promote an event or be our featured partner don't be afraid to reach out. 

Check out our website to find out a plethora of resources focused on alcohol and drug prevention.

Explore

Hometown Pharmacy Wellness Corner 
Brought To You By: Sean Casey 

"Is Your Breath Causing You to Be Stressed?"

Everyone knows that breathing is critical for life. However, have you ever wondered if you're actually doing it “right”? Furthermore, did you know that how you breathe can directly affect your stress levels?

At Hometown Pharmacy, we place a large emphasis on using breathwork focused on breathing in and out through the nose to assist stress management. 

Here’s an easy example of a breathing exercise you can do 1-2x per day known as the 4-2-4 method. It's a great way to help train your body to breathe through your nose and thus, help reduce daily stress. 

1. Close your eyes and lie on your back or stay seated in a chair (NOTE – most people relax best lying down)
 
2. Breathing through your nose only, inhale for a count of 4 seconds, hold for 2 seconds, exhale for a count of 4 seconds, pause & repeat for a duration of 30 seconds up to 5 minutes – whatever you have time for! Focus on the rhythm of your breath. Focus on breathing through your belly with deep breaths. With each exhale, focus on letting your muscles relax deeper and deeper.

Give the above sequence a try. If you’re not used to breathing through your nose, it may feel awkward at first. However, if you stick to it, you’ll soon find that it can be an effective tool to assist with stress management!

Learn More

This month is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Below you can read more about it from the U.S. Department Of State along with a list of resources.  

Understanding Human Trafficking
20 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking
The U.S. Government’s Response to Combating Human      Trafficking 
Human Trafficking Hotlines
U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking Annual Report

What's next for the WCCC?
 
January 25        WCCC Membership Meeting 
February 9/10    FLYY Leadership Student Training 
February 11       A Day of AODA Prevention 
February 11       Mental Fitness for Teens Retreat  
February 19       Project Brave 
 