The following Sunday, February 5, 2012, St. John’s Forum will include a panel presentation at 9:45 a.m. in St. John’s Hall.   Greg Kneser, Dean of Students at St. Olaf College; Joel Leer, Principal at Northfield High School; John Sand, Athletic Trainer and Health Educator at Northfield High School; and Joan Janusz, Member of the Northfield Mayor’s Task Force on Youth Alcohol & Drug Use, will be the panelists discussing addiction and substance use in Northfield.

The events are free and all are welcome to attend.  St. John’s Church is located at 500 3rd Street West in Northfield.

For more information, please call Barb Knaak at 507-664-0444.

The Rice County Chemical Health Coalition calls them Project Prevention Champions. The Coalition will be honoring six individuals and one organization that have made significant contributions to the prevention, treatment and recovery from drug and alcohol abuse for residents in Rice County.

The 2011 Project Prevention Champions were nominated by fellow community members and chosen by a committee of individuals with close ties to local prevention efforts.

The Northfield award recipients include the following:

• Paul Beaumaster, the Rice County Attorney, was nominated by a local parent who appreciates Paul’s genuine desire to see our kids grow up strong and healthy. Paul’s column in the local newspapers sends a strong message about his commitment to creating an environment for youth to develop in a healthy way. In the courtroom and in the community, Paul’s commitment to substance abuse prevention is clear and firm.
• Tom Graupmann, the Activities Director of Northfield High School, was nominated by local parents for his enthusiastic support of the “Pure Performance: Life of an Athlete Program,” its implementation in Northfield and his advocacy for the program throughout the state.
• The Northfield Mayor’s Task Force on Youth Alcohol & Drug Use was nominated as a group of volunteer citizens who have developed a coherent action plan that focuses on prevention, strengthening community resources, enforcement and education. The individuals on the task force being honored include Curt Benson, Katherine Cooper, Patty Gallivan, Judi Harper-Malecha, Paul Hart Ruthenbeck, Joan Janusz, Jackie McBeain, Kristine Matson, Mark Mohlke, Mary F. Nelson, Susan Sanderson and Kris Vohs.

In Faribault, the following individuals will receive awards: Donna Crowl, a Faribault community member who is committed to providing access to activities for area youth; Ed Hoisington for his leadership of the Double Impact initiative; Rhonda Mulder of District One Hospital; and Martha Schultz, the Youth Development Coordinator of Faribault Public Schools.

For more information regarding the Project Prevention awards or other resources offered through the Rice County Chemical Health Coalition, please visit www.ricecountychc.com.

To RSVP for the Northfield training (where space is limited), please contact Heather Kuehl (hkuehl@ricecountychc.com OR 507-403-9696) by Friday, November 11.  No RSVP is necessary for the Faribault training.

The training will be led by Jay Jaffee, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Coordinator.

For an informational flyer on the training, please click HERE.  Continuing education credits are available.

The training will be led by Jay Jaffee, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Coordinator.

To RSVP for the Northfield training (where space is limited), please contact Heather Kuehl (hkuehl@ricecountychc.com OR 507-403-9696) by Friday, November 11.  No RSVP is necessary for the Faribault training.

For an informational flyer on the training, please click HERE.  Continuing education credits are available.

A Project Prevention Supporter is someone who has helped provide support for a healthier life in our community…..someone who helps reduce risk factors for alcohol and drug abuse, someone who supports those working on recovery, someone who builds assets for our youth and other community members.

They can be our friends and neighbors, our teachers, our mentors, our business partners, our police officers, our health professionals or community members.  Please help us recognize and encourage these community leaders by nominating them for a Project Prevention Supporter Award.  They will receive the recognition and encouragement they deserve, and others will be inspired by their story.

Nominating a Project Prevention Supporter is simple and takes just a few moments.

1. Complete the questions on the very short nomination form
2. Send a copy to the address or email at the bottom of the page (ksandberg@ricecountychc.com) by September 30, 2011.

We will do the rest!  Please take just a few moments to help us recognize these leaders who make our communities safer for our children.  Thank you!

The Rice County Chemical Health Coalition is committed to preventing alcohol, tobacco and other drug use and abuse among Rice County youth.

The Chemical Health Coalition is committed to preventing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and abuse among Rice County youth.  In  order to keep doing this important work, we must have the influence and perspective of local young people.

Youth members will give input/ideas and will help complete projects and programs of the coalition.

Participating youth will:

• Care about keeping their peers safe and healthy
• Attend 5 meetings/year (Oct., Nov., Jan., March & May) and other small group meetings
• Receive a stipend for their time
• Be eligible to receive youth leadership training and attend other learning opportunities

To access the application form, click HERE.

Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20, 2011.

For questions or more information, contact Shelly Cole at Cole.Michelle@Mayo.edu

The consequences for violating these ordinances are penalties of up to 90 days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.

For more information on the local social host ordinances (including copies of the local ordinances), visit the Rice County Chemical Health Coalition website.

Attendees learned how to identify common designer drugs (like K2/spice, bath salts,
plant food, etc.), as well as how to recognize symptoms of intoxication of these drugs.

The training was led by Rick Moldenhauer, MS, LADC, ICADC, LPCC.  Rick is a Treatment Services Consultant with the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division.

The training was sponsored by the Rice County Chemical Health Coalition and Fountain Centers.  Many thanks to the Paradise Center for the Arts for hosting the event!

Below are a couple of important reminders for parents of prom-goers to make sure it’s a memorable and safe event:

RSVPs are required. To reserve your spot, contact Jenine Koziolek (507-377-6747 OR koziolek.jenine@mayo.edu).

Rick Moldenhauer from the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services will be the presenter.  Mr. Moldenhauer has more than 25 years of direct care in settings involving chemical dependency treatment.

The presentation will be geared toward professionals and community members concerned about the use of designer drugs in their communities.  “Designer drugs” is a term used to describe synthetic chemicals created to bypass current laws. Common street names include K2, spice, bath salts and 2 C-E.

Attendees will learn basic identification of common designer drugs used today, how to recognize symptoms of intoxication, and how to utilize differential assessment in separating symptoms of common mental health disorders from intoxication on designer substances. This presentation is designed to provide two hours of continuing education credits. The participant is responsible to determine whether this activity meets the requirements for continuing education for the involved discipline.

Fountain Centers has provided specialized programs for the treatment of drug and alcohol problems for over 35 years.   The Rice County Chemical Health Coalition is focused on preventing alcohol and other drug use among Rice County youth.