Mercer Council News

Keep up to date with our news and activities
Amy Argiriou

STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM

On October 24th and 25th, I had the pleasure of being trained in the Strengthening Families Program (SPF). It was an intense two day training that was powerful and informative. It is a program that is very easy to follow and one that I am sure is very rewarding for the families and the facilitators when the program is completed. SFP is a 14- session evidenced based family skills training program. ...
Continue reading
0
  52 Hits
  0 Comments
Tweet
52 Hits
0 Comments
Jocelyn Cooper

'Trick or treat'? Tobacco Companies Use 'Tricky' Tactics to Target Youth... BOO!

IMG_0224-2 Happy Halloween from Malissa, who is our go to on Vaping education!
    Cotton candy, gummy bear, banana smash and mint. Enticing flavors tobacco companies are using to hook a new generation of kids to their products. A ploy they’ve been using for decades -- because it works. According to the 2019 Youth Tobacco Survey, 97% of youth e-cigarette users choose flavors and four out of five who have used tobacco started with a flavored product. That’s because ...
Continue reading
0
  54 Hits
  0 Comments
Tweet
54 Hits
0 Comments
Jocelyn Cooper

Happy Friday from some of our OORP team members!

Screenshot-10 From left to right: Jon, James, Stacey, David, Marc & Mike
Mercer Council Opioid Overdose Recovery Program (OORP) team members met this afternoon for their November staff meeting.   OORP’s trained and uniquely qualified Recovery Specialists (Peers) are individuals with lived experience who are in recovery from substance related challenges. Peers are dispatched to Mercer County hospitals/emergency departments to meet bedside with i...
Continue reading
0
  233 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
mercercouncil #OORP #recovery #prevention hope
Tweet
233 Hits
0 Comments
Vanessa DeRosa

New Drunk Driving Law in place for Convicted First Time Offenders

IIL
A new drunk driving law is in effect that will require convicted first time offenders with a legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 to install ignition interlock devices as a means to stop them from driving while intoxicated. The new law also applies to individuals who refuse to provide a breath test after they are pulled over. Individuals convicted of drunk driving will be required to blo...
Continue reading
0
  47 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
protectingyouprotectingme
Tweet
47 Hits
0 Comments
Barbara Sprechman

Educational Leadership Presentation hosted by ASYSST Features Al Hall, CEO of Dream Catchers on October 16th

On Wednesday October 16, the ASYSST Program at Ewing High School Hosted an Educational Leadership Presentation, facilitated by Al Hall, CEO of Dream Catchers LLC., for the high school Freshman and Seniors while the juniors and sophomores were taking their PSAT exam.  The event  entitled "Being a Real Leader" was held in the auditorium and impacted nearly 400 students.  Some of the a...
Continue reading
0
  49 Hits
  0 Comments
Tweet
49 Hits
0 Comments
Barbara Sprechman

Mercer Council and the Prevention Coalition of Mercer County support DEA's 18th Take Back Day - taking back unwanted prescription drugs October 26 at police stations across the county

On Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 18th opportunity in nine years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to your local police station. (Sites cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or pat...
Continue reading
0
  114 Hits
  0 Comments
Tweet
114 Hits
0 Comments
Vanessa DeRosa

Stronger Together! Mercer Council's 2nd Annual Benefit Luncheon & Silent Auction 2019

IMG_4556 Opening remarks by Executive Director Jocelyn Cooper
Mercer Council was moved by the generosity of community members in attendance at our 2nd Annual Benefit Luncheon and Silent Auction, held on September 24, 2019, at the Stone Terrace by John Henry's in Hamilton, NJ.  Various sectors of the community contributed to this event, including Luncheon attendees, donators, special guest speakers, dignitaries and sponsors.  Proceeds from...
Continue reading
0
  139 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
Mercer Council #prevention Scholarship benefit
Tweet
139 Hits
0 Comments
Barbara Sprechman

Vigil Honors Overdose Awareness Day

  A vigil in a local park will bring awareness to addiction while honoring the individuals and families of those battling the disease.  An Overdose Awareness Day vigil is set for Tuesday, August 27th at Woolsey Park in Hopewell Township.  The event starts at 5:30pm and includes guest speakers, grief and recovery support and a candlelight memorial.  This is the fourth annual Int...
Continue reading
0
  670 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
Mercer Council Overdose Prevention Coalition of Mercer County overdoseprevention
Tweet
670 Hits
0 Comments
Jocelyn Cooper

Campfire NJ Celebrates the Work of Mercer Council's Very Own, Barbara Sprechman

Campfire NJ Celebrates the Work of Mercer Council's Very Own, Barbara Sprechman (From left to right: Campfire NJ Executive Director Jessica Nitti, Mercer Council Assistant Director Barbara Sprechman and Campfire Associate Executive Director Kelly Nitti)
(Barbara Sprechman gives her Community Champion Acceptance Speech) Last night, I was privleged to have attended Campfire NJ's 19th annual Golf Outing Fundraiser.  Campfire is a wonderful organization that serves the youth of our communities in a variety of ways.  Because of their dedication to and passion for shaping our youth, they deserve to be supported and celebrated.  It was a ...
Continue reading
0
  445 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
mercercouncil Prevention Coalition of Mercer County #prevention Campfirenj award
Tweet
445 Hits
0 Comments
Barbara Sprechman

Tackling Opioids Through Prevention for Athletes (TOP)

Athletes are more prone to injuries that could result in getting prescribed prescription opioids (narcotic pain relievers), which can lead to misuse, addiction, an even accidental overdose or death.  Mercer Council and the Prevention Coalition of Mercer County are working together to raise awareness of potential opioid use disorders among student athletes, and to provide evidence-based inform...
Continue reading
0
  263 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
prescription pain medications Mixing opioids
Tweet
263 Hits
0 Comments
Vanessa DeRosa

Protecting You, Protecting Me

155-1550276_see-clipart-kids-kids-rainbow-clipart Successful Year for Protecting You, Protecting Me!
The 2018-2019 school year has concluded, and the Protecting You, Protecting Me (PYPM) alcohol use prevention program for grades K-5 was delivered to students at Washington Elementary School in Trenton, NJ. Over 300 students participated in PYPM, and all grades K-5 were reached! Thank you to all the staff and students who welcomed me into their school to provide this beneficial program! When asked ...
Continue reading
0
  373 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
#mercercouncil protectingyouprotectingme
Tweet
373 Hits
0 Comments
Jocelyn Cooper

"Governor Murphy Announces Free Naloxone Distribution Throughout New Jersey on June 18"

Please see the below message from Governor Phil Murphy. This is an amazing chance to take advantage of an opportunity to be equipped with this critical life saving medication!  For more information Click here .
0
  262 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
Mercer Council Narcan #prevention Naloxone overdoseprevention
Tweet
262 Hits
0 Comments
Barbara Sprechman

Save-the-date International Overdose Awareness Day

International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held one day during the last week in August each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of drug overdose.  Knowing the real facts about drugs and what to do ...
Continue reading
0
  486 Hits
  0 Comments
Tweet
486 Hits
0 Comments
Lisa Kauffman

Community Blessings

Stop & Shop
Wow, Mercer Council has been truly blessed.  We have been chosen by Stop & Shop store leadership as the benefiting non-profit in the Community Bag Program for  June .   You can help  Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction will receive a $1 donation every time a $2.50 Community Bag is sold during the month of June at the Shop & Shop...
Continue reading
0
  346 Hits
  0 Comments
Tweet
346 Hits
0 Comments
Jocelyn Cooper

Mercer Council's OORP Program Gets Stunning Review!

Mercer Council was visited on May 14th, by 3 individuals from the State of New Jersey, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, who are involved at the state level in the Opioid Overdose Recovery Program (OORP).  DMHAS representatives at Mercer Council's monthly OORP meeting, sung their praise for Mercer Council's OORP program, indicating in 2018, Mercer Council successfully linked 4...
Continue reading
0
  314 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
#mercercouncil #OORP #opioids #recovery #prevention
Tweet
314 Hits
0 Comments
Barbara Sprechman

6th Annual Excellence in Prevention Awards Event

    Mercer Council and The Prevention Coalition of Mercer County are pleased to announce their 6th Annual Excellence in Prevention Awards breakfast to be held on Wednesday, June 12th.  This annual event honors those individuals, agencies, associations and companies from around the county that have made significant contributions over the past year to ensure the health, safety and wel...
Continue reading
0
  287 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
Mercer Council #mercercouncil Prevention Coalition of Mercer County
Tweet
287 Hits
0 Comments
Barbara Sprechman

Lunch and Learn May 21st: How to Shop for CBD Products - Can they be dangerous?

  Thousands of the cannabis products line store shelves, but determining what’s safe is up to you.  What factors should you consider when purchasing these products to ensure safety?  What do you need to know about CBD and in what form should it be used?  Is it important to know where it was grown and how much THC it contains?  Find out the answers to these questions and mo...
Continue reading
0
  319 Hits
  0 Comments
Tweet
319 Hits
0 Comments
Barbara Sprechman

Hey Parents! It's Alcohol Awareness Month!

When we know better we do better.  For example, did you know that teens who use alcohol before age 15 are  SIX TIMES  more likely to become alcohol dependent than those that begin drinking at age 21?  We also now know that the brain is still developing until age 24-25 and can be damaged by just a few episodes of binge drinking.  Some parents today still think it's oka...
Continue reading
0
  250 Hits
  0 Comments
Tweet
250 Hits
0 Comments
Barbara Sprechman

Mercer Council Co-hosts Marijuana Forum with Rider University

On April 17th, over sixty people attended a public forum at Rider University on marijuana.  As the New Jersey legislature considers a bill to legalize the commercial use of marijuana, this forum highlighted  the expertise of three individuals:  Dr. William Kernan, Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Public Health at William Paterson University and Research Director for Un...
Continue reading
0
  321 Hits
  0 Comments
Tweet
321 Hits
0 Comments
Catherine Arulmohan

Tax deduction for Charitable contributions

On March 25, NJ Senate passed the bill  S2179  that a llows gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions to certain New Jersey-based charitable organizations.  The deduction allowed by the bill mirrors the federal income tax deduction for charitable contributions and is allowed regardless of whether the federal itemized deduction is taken by the taxpayer.  ...
Continue reading
0
  310 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
Mercer Council #mercercouncil Support Donate
Tweet
310 Hits
0 Comments
    Previous    
1 2 3 4