REACH Quarterly Newsletter-July 2023

REACH Explorers Summer Camp 2023

BY EMMA SHELBY

We had such an amazing time hosting our annual REACH Explorers Summer Camp from June 12-16!

This year ' s theme was “dinosaurs” We had the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History come out and conduct a dino-dig to show the campers different fossils. The Creature Teacher brought lots of animals for the kids to learn about, like a chinchilla, a chameleon, a baby kangaroo, and an arctic fox pup. “Kayla the Face Painter” and Midlothian Fire Department finished out the week with amazing face paintings for the kids and a safety talk. Each day campers rotated between various crafts, indoor and outdoor activities, as well as social-emotional learning groups. A huge thank you to Midlothian ISD for allowing us to use J. A. Vitovsky Elementary for the week!

REACH Explorers Summer Camp

CONTINUED ON PAGES 02, 03, 04

Arts & Crafts

PAGE 05

Youth Prevention Education

PAGE 06

Youth Recovery Communities

PAGE 07

Coalition & Community

PAGES 08, 09, 10, 11

Upcoming Events

PAGE 12

REACH Podcast

PAGE 13

Fundraising & Sponsors

PAGE 14

Contact Us

PAGE 15

REACH EXPLORERS SUMMER CAMP

REACH EXPLORERS SUMMER CAMP

REACH EXPLORERS SUMMER CAMP

Watermelon Paper Fan

Supplies:

Paper Plates

Large Crafting Sticks

Masking Tape

Stapler

Pink, Green, and Black paints or markers

Paintbrushes

Instructions:

Paint the inside of the paper plate pink

Paint the outer rim of the plate green, leaving a thin white stripe

Make small black dots with paint on the pink area

Let paint dry

Fold the plate in half

Use masking tape to attach the crafting stick to the inside of the plate

Use masking tape or a stapler to attach both sides of the plate around the stick

YOUTH PREVENTION EDUCATION

YP has been having a wonderful summer! We hosted another fantastic REACH Explorers Summer Camp in June (see feature article for more information). Now we are gearing up for the fall semester where we will be teaching curriculum in Ellis and Johnson County schools. The curriculum-based programs we offer are Too Good for Drugs, LifeSkills Training, and Kids’ Connection. We will again be offering these in many repeat school districts, though this year may be a little different due to the changes in the school schedules. Many local school districts have opted to integrate either a 4-day school week or a hybrid schedule. This change will require more flexibility on our part, but we are also hoping for new opportunities as well

We will be offering specific presentations over alcohol, current drug trends, stress relief, coping skills, how to manage peer pressure, and making healthy choices We will offer these presentations as needed depending on staff availability.

We are also preparing for another exciting Red Ribbon Week which is held annually during the third week of October Throughout Red Ribbon Week we travel to numerous schools and often conduct multiple presentations a day at each location.

If you would like to schedule any of our services, please contact our Director of School Programs, Tom Kowatch, at Tom.Kowatch@reachcouncil.org.

YOUTH RECOVERY COMMUNITIES

Our pro-social events are organized events designed to bring participants together to engage in fun activities with the goal of creating pro-social relationships while exploring team-building skills, coping mechanisms, and creativity without the use of substances

This summer, we have been doing one pro-social event per week! So far, we have gamed at Dave and Busters, raced go karts, dominated escape rooms, and made signs and mosaic art in our creativity workshops. We even had our quarterly community service event where we sorted donations at Manna House Our participants are having so much fun, and so are we!

We are looking forward to our mobile video game truck and axe throwing events as well as our back to school event at Medieval Times for our participants and their families.

COALITION & COMMUNITY

May - Coalition

REACH Across Johnson County and the Center for ASD presented community first responders with sensory bags containing noise canceling headphones, fidgets, and other items that may be helpful to community members with autism they may encounter in crisis. On Saturday, May 13th RAJC staff Erica and Nikki set up a booth at the City on a Hill Event at the Burleson High School.

REACH Across Johnson County Mental Health Project Coordinator Ashley Vasquez presented at the Burleson Business over Breakfast.

REACH Across Johnson County collaborated with the Alvarado Fire Department to hold its first annual Community Safety Fair on Saturday, May 20th. The community was able to see up close the various emergency equipment vehicles in “Touch a Truck”, learn to extinguish a fire, receive valuable community resources, and enjoy some food and entertainment.

COALITION & COMMUNITY

May - Community

REACH staff disseminated information at the Paws for Reflection Mental Health Walk on Saturday, May 6th

Many thanks to the Venus Police Department for inviting REACH Council to participate in the Venus Community Fentanyl Awareness Event where we were able to provide members of the community with Naloxone

REACH staff Ashley P & Heidi volunteered to give back to our Ellis County community in the United Way of West Ellis County “Community Volunteer Day” assisting Meals on Wheels North Central Texas by serving seniors in the Waxahachie community with fresh, hot meals along with a wellness check

COALITION & COMMUNITY

June - Coalition

Erica and Nikki attended the Texas Crime Stoppers Basic Training in Kerrville, Texas June 5th -6th with Crime Stoppers of Johnson County President - Patty Maggard, and Joshua Officer - Leigh Sosebee.

June - Community

REACH staff members (from left to right) Nikki, Tom, Cassie, Erica, Shari, and Ashley V attended the Montana Institute Training “The Paradox of the Positive: Preventing Harm by Promoting Health” in Big Sky, Montana June 20th-23rd.

REACH Council staff attended the Texas Annual Prevention Providers Meeting in Austin, Texas June 26th - 29th. (pictured Erica, Gracie, Ashley P )

COALITION & COMMUNITY

July - Coalition

RAJC had a great coalition meeting on Thursday, July 13th at Pathway Church in Burleson. Coalition members were asked to share their thoughts of what they felt the coalition purpose was. A couple of examples were:

Supporting a variety of important initiatives in our community that support the well being of all.

Supporting the community through drug and mental health initiatives by bringing together community resources to join forces as each sector has a different approach and we are stronger together.

Ashley V., Erica, and Gracie were guests on the Mr Allard’s Radio Show Thursday, July 20th. They discussed the upcoming Rise Mental Health Conference in October.

Godley Police Department received a special delivery of mental health stress kits for the officers from REACH Across Johnson County.

- Community

REACH Community Liaison Shari Phillips was presented the 2023 MADD North Texas Community Partner Award for “Outstanding commitment and dedication in the collaboration with MADD North Texas to eliminate impaired driving through awareness and prevention within the community.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

Rise Mental Health Conference

REACH PODCAST

Tune in to our podcast titled "REACHing Out With REACH" at https://reachcouncil.podbean.com/ where we will discuss news and topics about things that matter most to us and reflect our mission to "support safe and healthy choices vital to the well-being of our youth, families and community".

Join our staff as they uncover tips on prevention and recovery, and create fun conversations focused on their passions and interests in the prevention and recovery fields.

You can tune in via Google podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn + Alexa, IHeartRadio, PlayerFM, and Samsung.

FUNDRAISING & SPONSORS

Thank you to Hilco Electric Cooperative for their generous donation to our Youth Recovery Communities program.

Thank you to Baylor Scott & White Health for their kind donation to our prevention programs.

If you would like to donate to help improve our programs, you can find us on Venmo or PayPal!

Venmo: Reach-Midlothian

PayPal: Tasha.Taylor@reachcouncil.org

If you have any questions, or would like additional information, contact Tina.McClaren@reachcouncil.org

CONTACT US

Physical address: 208 S. 4th St., Midlothian, TX 76065

Mailing address: P.O. Box 598, Midlothian, TX 76065

Email: Info@ReachCouncil.org

Phone number: 972-723-1053

Follow Us on Social Media

REACH: @reach.council

YRC: @YRC.Reach

RAJC: @reachacrossjohnsoncounty

REACH: @reach_council

YRC: @yrc.reach

RAJC: @reachacrossjohnsoncounty

REACH: @REACHCouncil