Ruthie

The Cannabis Question

hemp-5675705_960_720
On February 22, 2021, Governor Phil Murphy signed three bills into law that addressed the legalization of cannabis (the legal word for marijuana). With this, the legalization of cannabis pushed forward a discourse for all New Jersey citizens to take part in. With questions and concerns so large about the impact on youth, the justice system, and the...
Continue reading
1
  50 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
Mercer Council Prevention Coalition of Mercer County (PCMC) Prevention Prevention Education Marijuana
Tweet
50 Hits
0 Comments
Barbara Sprechman

Mercer Council Announces Staff Changes October 1st

MCLogo-with-Vision-statement
I've had a long and fulfilling career in prevention over the past 29 years.  Starting out as a part time prevention educator teaching a primary prevention program known as BABES for young children using puppets and storytelling when my own children were very young.  Prevention Science was still a fairly "young" fi...
Continue reading
2
  146 Hits
  1 Comment
Tags:
Mercer Council Prevention Coalition of Mercer County (PCMC) Prevention Education
Tweet
Recent comment in this post
Guest — Jocelyn P Cooper
Congratulations to you, Barb! You took me under your wing after bringing me into the Mercer Council family. I am grateful to kno... Read More
Friday, 01 October 2021 00:47
146 Hits
1 Comment
Vanessa DeRosa

Time to Set the Table Again in Preparation for National Family Day on September 27, 2021

tray-23475_960_720
A blog post was written in October 2020 to recognize October as National Eat Better, Eat Together Month. The purpose of National Eat Better, Eat Together Month is to promote healthy eating habits among individuals of all ages. Research shows there are many benefits of families frequently eating dinner together including improved social skills in ch...
Continue reading
2
  79 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
Mercer Council protectingyouprotectingme Prevention community
Tweet
79 Hits
0 Comments
S Johnson

HELP!

September is Suicide Prevention Month. While ASYSST is assisting students throughout the year, suicide is one of the many areas we focus on. This year's theme is HELP, take one post one. There is a help sign posted outside of one of our offices, students can take a Post-It Note with a positive affirmation that speaks to or means something to him/he...
Continue reading
2
  74 Hits
  1 Comment
Tags:
Support Prevention Mental Health ASYSST
Tweet
Recent comment in this post
Guest — Jocelyn Cooper
I am so grateful to work alongside you, Shakita. Our community is so fortunate to have ASYSST, especially during this difficult t... Read More
Friday, 24 September 2021 12:33
74 Hits
1 Comment
Amy Argiriou

Talking Points For Teens

Teen_Group_Pic
Choosing what to eat for dinner is a simple decision we can make without much thought. Difficult decisions such as where to go for college require careful and more serious thinking. In this session of Talking Points for Teens, the focus will be on making those tough decisions. We will examine the pros and cons for the different outcomes of each tou...
Continue reading
1
  106 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
Mercer Council Adolescents Schools Students Youth
Tweet
106 Hits
0 Comments
Jocelyn Cooper

Mercer Council OORP Wishes You a Happy Recovery Month!

billionphotos-2142691
OORP's Dream Team of Certified Peer Recovery Specialists, spread hope and healing as they reflect on the gift of recovery and what being in recovery means to them!   For some Recovery Month inspiration, check out what they have to say!  💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 Marc North, Stacey Ross, James Boozan, Brian Bittings, Jon Macciocca, Dave...
Continue reading
0
  259 Hits
  1 Comment
Tags:
Support Addiction Recovery Support Stigma OUD
Tweet
Recent comment in this post
Lisa Kauffman
Thanks to all our OORP Recovery Specialists, who tirelessly go the extra mile to help those still stuck in addiction. You are an ... Read More
Tuesday, 14 September 2021 14:51
259 Hits
1 Comment
Barbara Sprechman

The Jewish High Holy Days and Their Relationship to the Recovery Community

high-holy-days
The sound of the Shofar (ram's horn) is the signal that the Days of Awe, the ten-day period from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur has begun. This is a period of serious introspection and soul-searching. It is a time to heal hurts, offer apologies, mend misunderstandings, and right wrongs. These 10 days are considered the most sacred on the Jewish calend...
Continue reading
2
  185 Hits
  1 Comment
Tags:
Communities Recovery Support Special Events
Tweet
Recent comment in this post
Guest — Lisa
What a great explanation. Thank you Barb
Thursday, 09 September 2021 14:56
185 Hits
1 Comment
Catherine Arulmohan

Classified - Prevention Educator position

We-are-Hiring
Mercer Council is looking to hire a full time Prevention Educator.   Prevention Educator will offer a variety of prevention curricula in Mercer County schools and community organizations. Bachelor's degree required. Social service field preferred. We are also looking for team members who have the ability to split their time betw...
Continue reading
1
  212 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
Mercer Council Prevention Education Classified
Tweet
212 Hits
0 Comments
Vanessa DeRosa

Resources to Stay Safe and Sober this Labor Day 2021

american-flag-1311743_960_72_20210903-155812_1
Labor Day is Monday, September 6, 2021. This holiday (which has been nationally celebrated in the U.S. since 1894) recognizes the American Labor Movement and celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers. The day signifies the end of summer, the beginning of autumn, and the anticipation of a new school year ahead. On this day, many in...
Continue reading
2
  304 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
Alcohol Communities Parents Who Host Lose the Most Recovery Support
Tweet
304 Hits
0 Comments
Lisa Kauffman

2021 Team at ASYSST is Ready For The First Day of School

ASYSST
Our ASYSST (Available School Youth Support Services Team) has changed and is ready to assist the students at Ewing High this school year. We welcome our new Program Director, Dan Winter, our new Mental Health Clinician, Carly Scanlon, and our returning Developmental Specialist, Shakita Johnson. They are excited and have a lot of great things planne...
Continue reading
1
  211 Hits
  1 Comment
Tags:
Schools Students Youth ASYSST
Tweet
Recent comment in this post
Guest — Jocelyn Cooper
So proud of you, team!
Monday, 30 August 2021 12:56
211 Hits
1 Comment
Vanessa DeRosa

NHTSA revs up for their Labor Day Impaired Driving High-Visibility Enforcement Campaigns

billionphotos-2500990
From the choices below, can you guess the type of driver (based on vehicle type) responsible for the highest percentage of alcohol-related fatal crashes in 2019? Is it A.) bus driver, B.) car driver, C.) motorcycle driver, or D.) truck driver?  The correct answer is C.) motorcycle driver. Among the alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal cr...
Continue reading
1
  188 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
Alcohol Distracted Driving Drug Effects Special Events community
Tweet
188 Hits
0 Comments
Vanessa DeRosa

National Grief Awareness Day 2021

billionphotos-374413
4 Types of Grief Nobody Told You About | Psychology Today And why it’s important that we call them grief. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/between-the-generations/201904/4-types-grief-nobody-told-you-about#:~:text=%204%20Types%20of%20Grief%20Nobody%20Told%20You,one%E2%80%99s%20own%20life%20and%20affairs.%0AExamples%20include%3A%0AA...%20More...
Continue reading
1
  1064 Hits
  3 Comments
Tags:
Support Addiction Families Mental Health
Tweet
Recent Comments
Guest — Barbara Sprechman
Very interesting that Grief Awareness Day is the day before International Overdose Awareness Day when so many are grieving loved o... Read More
Friday, 13 August 2021 14:08
Guest — DAVID DECAMP
The correspondence of Trauma, Grief, SUD, and Overdose is no coincidence. Very interesting blog with an amazing number of brillia... Read More
Friday, 13 August 2021 14:37
Guest — Justine Frank, CADC Intern, CPRS
We are all too familiar with an incomprehensible degree of loss in our Mercer County & NJ communities due to the opioid & other SU... Read More
Friday, 13 August 2021 22:11
1064 Hits
3 Comments
Barbara Sprechman

Mercer County's National Night Out Events

new-NNO
  The Mercer Council and Prevention Coalition of Mercer County were proud to be represented at 5 different National Night Out (NNO) locations throughout Mercer County on August 3rd. National Night Out is an important event that seeks to foster and enhance relationships between neighborhoods/communities and various law enforcement agencies. Sta...
Continue reading
1
  851 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
Mercer Council Prevention Coalition of Mercer County (PCMC) Special Events
Tweet
851 Hits
0 Comments
Barbara Sprechman

PCMC Partners with the PDFNJ to Promote Important Public Health Messages Around Youth and Marijuana Use

1625-Free-Clipart-Of-A-Cannabis-Leaf
The Prevention Coalition of Mercer County is teaming up with The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey to promote the 2021 public health campaign that focuses on raising awareness of the risks associated with adolescent use of marijuana.  "The recent legislation passed in New Jersey making retail cannabis legal for those 21 yea...
Continue reading
5
  245 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
Drug Effects Marijuana Youth
Tweet
245 Hits
0 Comments
S Johnson

When you Need a Hand to Hold, ASYSST will be there

On July 20, 2021 the students of ASYSST Summer Camp demonstrated an act of goodwill by providing their time and services to the community. During this day of summer camp, the students put together grief bags for the Hand to Hold organization that is housed at Ewing High School (EHS). These bags are given out to students and staff in need, but mainl...
Continue reading
2
  203 Hits
  1 Comment
Tags:
Adolescents Schools Youth community ASYSST
Tweet
Recent comment in this post
Guest — Vanessa DeRosa
What a wonderful idea and it will definitely help a lot of individuals!
Monday, 26 July 2021 13:43
203 Hits
1 Comment
Barbara Sprechman

Mercer Council and the PCMC Present Senator Linda Greenstein with Excellence in Prevention Award

Sen-Greenstein Senator Linda Greenstein and Barbara Sprechman
On Monday, July 19th, Barbara Sprechman hand delivered the 2021 Excellence in Prevention Award to Senator Greenstein at her office in Cranbury.  After holding the virtual Excellence in Prevention Awards event in June, it was wonderful to have a face-to-face encounter! "Given the pandemic's toll on mental health, making sure that the ...
Continue reading
1
  227 Hits
  1 Comment
Tags:
Mercer Council Prevention Coalition of Mercer County (PCMC) Award
Tweet
Recent comment in this post
Guest — MALISSA ARNOLD
She has always been a champion for prevention and recovery! Well deserved!
Thursday, 22 July 2021 12:59
227 Hits
1 Comment
Ruthie

Did You Know July is Disability Pride Month?

inclusion-2731344_960_720
July 26, 1990, was a date many people in the United States celebrated due to the passing of The Americans with Disabilities Act. This law, signed by President George H.W. Bush, prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. It is not nationally recognized, but due to the historic nature of such an event, it is celebrated in the United S...
Continue reading
4
  266 Hits
  1 Comment
Tags:
Mercer Council Prevention Prevention Education Public Health Mental Health
Tweet
Recent comment in this post
Lisa Kauffman
These have been so helpful!!! Thanks Ruth
Tuesday, 20 July 2021 14:41
266 Hits
1 Comment
Barbara Sprechman

Mercer Council Staff Meetings

IMG_2755 Mercer Council Staff
Mercer Council has held virtual staff meetings since the beginning of the pandemic last year, so it was great to finally get back together for some face to face interaction outside our building in the parking lot area this past week.   We welcome two new members to our School Based Youth Services Program ASYSST:  Carly...
Continue reading
1
  258 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
Mercer Council ASYSST
Tweet
258 Hits
0 Comments
Vanessa DeRosa

June is National Safety Month

billionphotos-1654257-1
In honor of June being National Safety Month, an important safety topic I would like to discuss in this blog pertains to the dangers of drunk driving, drugged driving, and underage drinking. With the official start of summer looming coupled with the anticipation that comes with social isolation lockdown restrictions being eased, people are gearing ...
Continue reading
1
  326 Hits
  0 Comments
Tags:
protectingyouprotectingme Alcohol Communities Distracted Driving Families
Tweet
326 Hits
0 Comments
S Johnson

ASYSST Summer Camp

Summer Camp is back at Ewing High School.  It is a first come first served, up to 15 students can attend. Students will enjoy a variety of activities, games, and 3 field trips throughout the summer. Please see the attached flier for further information and to sign up.
2
  378 Hits
  1 Comment
Tags:
Mercer Council ASSYST Adolescents Students Youth
Tweet
Recent comment in this post
Guest — MALISSA ARNOLD
I am so glad to see that this valuable resource is back for the wonderful EHS students!
Tuesday, 15 June 2021 18:39
378 Hits
1 Comment
    Previous    
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Our Office

Mercer Council on Alcoholism & Drug Addiction
1931 Brunswick Avenue
Lawrence, NJ  08648

A Member Of

CADCA Logo

 

Follow Us On

Quick Links