July/August 2021

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Our Year in Review…

 

As we wrap up the 2020/2021 academic year, we wanted to thank everyone who made this year’s work possible, and give a brief summary of all that we have achieved.

 

We are excited to report that this year CCSA held:

During these events, programs and workshops, CCSA presented to
approximately:

This year, CCSA also:

 

  • Started a new blog to continue combatting stigma and raising awareness about addiction
  • “Graduated” with our cohort from the OU Impact Accelerator program
  • Partnered with two amazing and innovative giving platforms: Daily Giving and MyTzedakah
  • Partnered with over 30 schools in 4 different states (and are in discussions with several more in additional communities)

 

While, of course, all of these accomplishments are wonderful, our greatest achievement this year has been the ability to touch and change so many lives through our work. Students have come up to us, thanking us for giving them the language to help friends or explain their own struggles. Community members, who have joined our workshops or awareness events, are grateful to us for providing a platform to educate others and combat the stigma that persists in Jewish communities. Educators tell us weeks after CCSA being at a school that their students are still talking about our presentation, and how it touched them. We have had parents and loved ones approach us, seeking our guidance and thanking us for enabling them to help those they care about.

I am a high school girl … and so many of my friends are struggling … Trying to help my friends yet also helping myself is so confusing and scary, and I was so relieved to hear about this event. It felt so validating to know that I'm not alone and that others are going through this. The event was so informative and I felt comfortable asking questions and getting the answers I so needed.

 

- Anonymous Participant at the recent Teen Mental Health Summit at which CCSA presented.

When CCSA was founded three years ago, our goal was to help one person – even just one person – reach out for help, rather than becoming a morbid statistic. It is clear to us that we have far surpassed that goal. Through our amazing supporters and volunteers, our school partners, and our corporate affiliates, we are humbled and grateful to have been able to achieve even more than we could have ever anticipated this past year. Still, with all that we have accomplished, there is more work to be done and we are prepared and ready to meet the increasing needs and challenges we face in this ever-changing world of substance use education and prevention.

 

We wanted to take this chance to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you who continue to support the life-saving work we do, helping shatter the stigma of addiction, educate our communities, and provide essential tools and prevention strategies for people of all ages. Thank you all for your continued support and efforts as we forge ahead with this important work.

 

- Lianne Forman, Executive Director of CCSA

 

 

To partner with us and make a tax-deductible donation to help CCSA continue bringing these critical services and programs into Jewish communities and schools, please go to www.jewishccsa.org/donate

Summer is Here:

Let’s Talk About Having “The Talk”
With Your Children

 

For many teens and tweens, summer is a time of relaxed supervision, whether they are leaving for a program abroad in Israel, going away to sleep-away camp, or simply hanging out with friends outside the house more.

 

Less supervision also means more chances for youth to be faced with difficult situations around alcohol and drugs.

 

Ask, Listen, Learn has put out updated resources around having open, non-judgmental discussions with your kids around substance use and underage drinking. You can read about when and how to have conversations around alcohol or learn more about how to talk to your kids about the ongoing legalization of marijuana.

 

Studies have repeatedly shown that parents have the most influence in the decisions that children make. Even if it doesn’t always feel like it, the power rests in parents’ hands to help youth say yes to a healthy lifestyle and no to dangerous substance use. Understanding the facts, modeling appropriate relationships with substances, and having open communication can make all the difference.

 

You can also check out the wealth of resources CCSA has posted for parents and educators. Let’s work together towards keeping ourselves informed and helping our children stay safe this summer. 

Call for Submissions: The CCSA Blog

 

Last newsletter, we announced our newest initiative: The CCSA blog. On the blog, we have started amplifying more voices in the Jewish world of addiction, recovery, and mental wellness.

 

For example, June is National PTSD Awareness Month, so we featured a post by a young woman who wrote about her experience with PTSD, her own internalized stigmas, and the arduous process of healing. You can read Sarah’s full post here: Good Jewish Girls Aren’t Supposed to Have PTSD.

 

We are looking forward to building out the blog, highlighting others’ voices on mental health and addiction issues. We are currently seeking additional submissions from:  

 

  • Family Members
  • People in Recovery
  • Young Individuals (and Students)
  • Professionals in Mental Health Fields
  • Or anyone touched by this issue! 

 

If you or anyone you know is interested in submitting a piece to be published (anonymously or not), please reach out to Ellie Forman at eforman@jewishccsa.org

As We Move Forward…

 

Got any summer plans? We certainly do.

 

This summer, CCSA is revamping and building out our prevention programming, creating updated and differentiated presentations for students, and beginning to plan our awareness events and Continuing Education seminars for the upcoming year. That being said, CCSA’s first priority is to continue serving the communities we are a part of and be responsive towards your needs.

 

If you have any feedback to give us on important topics or issues for us to tackle, or any general feedback on last year’s events (i.e., what was helpful or what was not), please feel free to reach out via our contact page. Prevention is and always will be a community effort, so we are always grateful to hear from you to make sure we meet your needs!

We welcome anyone with a loved one who is struggling with substance misuse or addiction. Since we are conducting these meetings online, anyone can join. Loved ones can meet others who share common ground and who can offer dialogue and support. The group is facilitated by professionals specializing in addiction and is free of charge.

 

For more information on how to join the group, please email CCSA at Time2TalkAddiction@gmail.com. 

 

Our meetings are held on Wednesday evenings.

We Need Your Help To Eliminate Stigma

100% of all donations go to support our efforts and initiatives to eliminate stigma through awareness and education, and to help families in need of assistance. We can only continue to offer these critical services and programs with your help and support. Please consider donating today!

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