Mercer Council News

Keep up to date with our news and activities
Gregory Smith

Miracles Do Happen

  We are pleased to report that in early October, Governor Phil Murphy devised a last minute budget adjustment with the support of  several legislative leaders that  approved the restoration of the School Based Youth Service Program!  This decision results in the restoration of Mercer Council’s ASYSST Program and nearly 100 other school based youth service programs, effective O...
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Vanessa DeRosa

PARENTAL EMPOWERMENT WEBINAR

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Please join us on Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 10am to take part in a 1 hour webinar on combating substance abuse in today's young adolescents. This webinar will be presented by Vanessa DeRosa, Protecting You, Protecting Me Program Coordinator and Amy Argiriou, Botvin's Life Skills Training Program Coordinator. Topics to be discussed include the dangers of underage drinking, effects of alcohol an...
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Malissa Arnold

Concerns regarding Youth and Marijuana

If you ask anyone in prevention about how they feel about the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, and 80% of them will answer with the same phrase- I am worried about the mixed messages being sent to youth. And they aren’t wrong.  Legalization of marijuana is a mix of emotions no matter where it is discussed- it is touted as the savior of economies and social/racial injustice, a r...
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Vanessa DeRosa

Reminder to submit your healthy recipes!

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Have a healthy family recipe you think is above the rest? It's time to put it to the test and show others why yours is best! Reminder to all students in grades K-5 that recipe submissions are still being accepted now until November 2, 2020. Students who submit their recipes will receive a goodie bag filled with Mercer Council items and will be automatically entered to win 1 of 3 $25 ShopRite gift ...
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Malissa Arnold

Considerations on the Proposed Marijuana Amendment

  This November, and earlier, considering mail-in ballots, voters are casting votes to amend the New Jersey Constitution to allow recreational use of marijuana for adults 21 or older, or as many refer to it, cannabis. Here are some general facts about marijuana and the legalization process that may require more consideration. Marijuana has been a Schedule 1 drug that has been outlawed for any...
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Catherine Arulmohan

'Wear Pink' Day at Mercer Council

  In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mercer Council staff wore pink and spent a portion of our weekly staff meeting discussing the importance of prioritizing health and how Council's work in substance use prevention enducation impacts the overall health and well-being of every individual.  Here at Mercer Council we strive each day to offer programming to foster a healthy, safe ...
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Malissa Arnold

Marijuana Amendment proposed to NJ Voters

  This November, and earlier considering mail-in ballots, voters are casting votes to amend the New Jersey Constitution to allow recreational use of marijuana, or as many refer to it, cannabis.  “ The interpretive statement is as follows: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA Do you approve amending the Constitution to legalize a controlled form of marijuana called “cannabis”? O...
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Jocelyn Cooper

Mercer OORP Team Sends Message of Hope And Recovery Amidst Trying Times

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The Opioid Overdose Recovery Program (OORP) team has been hard at work during the pandemic, ensuring that the invaluable Recovery Support services typically provided, continue to be available, accessible and effective no matter what challenges and barriers are going on in the world right now. The Mercer OORP team has worked with 921 individuals to ...
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Guest — Barbara Sprechman
What an amazing team!!!
Wednesday, 30 September 2020 17:14
Dave
So incredibly proud of this entire team, and the effort it has put forth since the program inception in 2017, and especially durin... Read More
Wednesday, 30 September 2020 19:41
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Vanessa DeRosa

October is National Eat Better, Eat Together Month! Share with us your healthy family recipe and be automatically entered to win a ShopRite gift card!

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Food is an essential element for survival and especially now in these uncertain times, food can increase closeness and unite families and communities through sharing meals together. National Eat Better, Eat Together month serves to promote healthy eating habits among individuals of all ages. The benefits of families who frequently eat dinner together (at least five times per week) include improved...
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Jocelyn Cooper

Mercer Council Participates in Recovery Advocates of America's Annual 5K Fundraising Walk

IMG-0396 8th Annual Recovery Advocates 5k a Success
Mercer Council team members Malissa Arnold, Jocelyn Cooper and David DeCamp all spent their Saturday supporting strong community partner, Recovery Advocates of America as they hosted their 8th Annual 5k Fundraising Walk/Run.  Despite the pandemic, Recovery Advocates safely hosted another very popular and well attended event (over 400 participants!!), that not only raises awareness about subst...
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Barbara Sprechman

Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day is October 6th

In 2019, more than 3,000 people died of a drug overdose in New Jersey. This tragic total actually represented a decrease from the previous year and perhaps a positive sign of progress being made in the fight against the opioid crisis. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged New Jersey and the nation, overdose deaths have increased once again with the state on pace to experience roughly 3,200...
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Guest — Robin Stitt
Those of us who suffer from pain every day, whether from trauma or illness, know how valuable effective pain relief is, and how c... Read More
Tuesday, 29 September 2020 01:54
Guest — Barbara Sprechman
There should be no doubt that these drugs should not be withheld to those who suffer chronic pain and can find relief no other way... Read More
Tuesday, 29 September 2020 16:06
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Gregory Smith

SAVE SBYSP!!

IMG_7371-1 Rally to save SBYSP September 4 , 2020
Friday afternoon September 4th was a day that will live long in the history of school-based youth service programs. It’s a day where the students of the program took a voice to speak about the value of the program, services, and resources School Base offers to over 90 sites across the state of New Jersey. As an employee of Mercer Council and having been a part of the school-based youth service pro...
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Lisa Kauffman

Vote November 3, 2020

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Election Day is quickly approaching on November 3rd, 2020!  Voting is a privilege to those who are able and an opportunity for the many voices of our communities to be heard.  Each year on Election Day, Mercer Council closes their office to allow staff to prioritize exercising their right to vote.  Although the election will look slightly different this year and most of our staff wi...
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Vanessa DeRosa

Protecting You, Protecting Me Alcohol Use Prevention Program

Sign up today for Protecting You, Protecting Me lessons! Evidence-based alcohol use prevention program for Grades K-5No cost to schoolsVirtual and/or in person instruction availableSample preview virtual lessons available upon request Please visit the following link for more information:  Protecting You, Protecting Me Alcohol Use Prevention Program To inquire more about the program and/or for...
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Dave

September 2020 Is National Recovery Month – Perspectives from the Front Lines

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During August, and especially on International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31st), we remember and honor the lives of those who lost their battle with Substance Use Disorder.  During September, which has been designated by SAMHSA as National Recovery Month, we realign our perspectives to honoring and supporting those who have embraced recovery over active addiction.  September has beco...
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Gregory Smith

Call to Action Save School Based Youth Service Program From Governor's Budget Cut.

  Action Requested:  Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer CUTS ALL Funding to School Based Youth Services Program, (Our ASYSST Program)  eliminating mental health services for students. Several weeks ago I began working on a glowing report to share about the incredible Virtual Leadership Academy the ASYSST School Based youth Services Program successfully implemented the last week in ...
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Ruthie

Calendar Project- Adapting to the New Normal!

Hello Community! At the end of each cycle for the Trenton Municipal Alliance Grant, the Coordinator- along with the Mercer County Division of Youth does an undertaking called The Calendar Project. We specifically ask them to express how drugs, alcohol, and violence has shaped their lives and they express that through poems, drawings, and paintings. We collaborate with primary and middle school stu...
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Malissa Arnold

5th Annual International Overdose Awareness Day Virtual Event, Butterfly Release, and Vigil

Please Join Us for this Virtual Event! Zoom link: Zoom Link for IOAD Event on Thursday August 27th Meeting ID: 867 8890 9129 Passcode: 640777
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Catherine Arulmohan

Virtual Programs now offered through Mercer Council!!!

  Due to the COVID19 pandemic and subsequent social distancing protocols, there has been an increased need for virtual programs. To fulfill this need and continue our mission to reduce substance abuse through education, Mercer Council has put together a host of Virtual Programs that will benefit our community organizations and partners. Please take a look and share with others the programs of...
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Brian Bittings

The Perfect Storm

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The Perfect Storm When opioid addiction and COVID-19 diverge or meet head-on this has created the perfect storm. Both catastrophic events have caused unprecedented challenges to the healthcare system impacting the care that is vital to our patient/client population. COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of our lives from uncertainty of our health as well as our families, unemployment, financial conce...
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