REACH Quarterly Newsletter-November 2024 by REACHCouncil

REACH

QUARTERLY

A Letter From Our CEO, Tasha Taylor

OnbehalfoftheREACHBoardof Directorsandstaffmembers,Itruly hopethatyouhavebeenenjoyingthe agencyandprogrammaticupdates thathavebeenbroughttoyou throughourquarterlynewsletters.The publicationwasaninitiativethatI implementedin2021aswewere beginningtotransitionbacktoinpersonservicesinapost-pandemic environment.Ifeltthatitwas importanttoletourcommunity membersandstakeholdersknowthat ourservicesmayhavelooked differentduringtheshut-down,but theyneverceasedduetothe perseveranceofourstafffor continuingservicesdespitethe challengesthatsocialdistancing posed.Sinceournewsletter’s inceptionintheSpringof2021,this editionmarksour15thquarterly publication!Iambeyondpleased withourstaff’sreceptivenesstotake thenewsletterideaandmakeiteven betterthanIhadhoped.

CONTINUEDONPAGE2

NOVEMBER 2024

What’s Inside

ALetterFromOurCEO,Tasha Taylor

Pages1-3

ProgramsOfferedbyREACH Council

Pages4-6

BoardMemberSpotlight

Page7

YouthPreventionEducation

Page8

YouthRecoveryCommunities

Page9

Community

Pages10-14

REACHAcrossEllisCounty

Page15

REACHAcrossHillCounty

Page16

REACHAcrossJohnsonCounty

Pages17-19

TobaccoPreventionCoalition

Page20

REACHPodcast

Page21

UpcomingEvents

Page22

Arts&Crafts

Pages23&24

Sponsors&Fundraising

Page25

ContactUs

Page26

Continued - A Letter From Our CEO, Tasha Taylor

Moreover,Iamsooverwhelminglyproudoftheprogramsandservicesthathave beensharedwithyouthroughthesepagesoverthepastthreeandahalfyears.I alsowanttoofferaspecialthanksnotonlytothestaffwhotakethetimeto highlighttheirservicesandsubmitnewslettercontent,butalsotoAshley Paramore,ourcurrentAssistantDirectorofSchoolPrograms,whohasbeenthe talentbehindtakingthestories,photos,andarticlesprovidedbyourprogramstaff, andturningitallintoaphenomenalnewslettereachquarter.Wehaveanamazing team,andItrulyhopethattheirdedicationandcommitmenttoservingour communitiesisevidentineverypagethatyouturn.

Septembermarkedthebeginningofour2025fiscalyear,aswellasthebeginning ofour37thyearofprovidingvaluedservicestoourschoolsandcommunitiesI servedontheBoardofDirectorsfrom2009-2012duringatimeofuncertaintywith statefundingavailability,andeveryfundingcycle,despitethedemonstrated communityneedandhardworkofthestaff,thereisalwaysworryaboutwhether ornotenoughfundswillbeappropriatedinourregion.IbecametheCEOofREACH in2012,andIamhonoredtohaveledtheagencyforthepast12years.Duringmy tenure,wehaveworkedtoexpandserviceswhichbeganinEllisCountythroughthe commitmentofacoalitionofconcernedMidlothiancitizenstomakeadifference intheirschoolsandcommunity,toREACHnowservingthreefullcountiesincluding Ellis,JohnsonandHill.Wehavegrownsignificantlysince2012,notonlyinourstaff numbersandagencyfunding,butmoreimportantlyinourcapacitytobring valuableservicestoourschoolsandcommunitymembers.In2012,REACHhada totalstaffofsix,withthreestatefundedpreventionprograms,andanannual budgetof$365,792.IamsoproudtoannouncethatasofthestartofourFY25 contractyear,wenowhaveastaffof27,withninecombinedstateandfederally fundedgrantcontracts,andanannualgrantoperationsbudgetof$2,461,000.In additiontoourgrantfunding,wearesofortunatetohaveamazinglocal communitypartnerswhohelpustremendouslyinmeetingourmatchfunding requirementsforourgrantsbycontributingnearly$230,000oflocalannual programsupportintheformofcashandin-kinddonations.Thesepartnersinclude, butarenotlimitedto,MidlothianISD,JoshuaISD,BaylorScott&White,HILCO,Texas HealthResources,CenterforNonprofitManagement,andmanygenerouslocal businessesandcommunitymembers.WhileIalsoserveastheCFOtooverseeand manageallofourstateandfederalgrantcontractsandbudgets,Iwouldbe remissifIdidn’tmakeitcrystalclearthatouramazingChiefAdministrativeOfficer, TinaMcClaren,isthetalentbehindensuringthatourgrantpurchasingruns smoothly,thatouremployeeshavetheresourcestheyneed,andthatour timekeeping,payroll,employeebenefitsandHRfilesarefullycompliantwithour policies,contractrequirementsandapplicablestateandfederallaws.

Continued - A Letter From Our CEO, Tasha Taylor

Ihopethatyou’veenjoyedmeetingourboardandstaffmemberswhohave beenfeaturedinpreviousnewsletters.Inthiseditionweareproudtointroduce youtoourfoundingboardmember,JaniceCarey.Infutureeditionswewill hightlightnewstaffmembersinourStaffSpotlightsection.Forthenine programsreferencedabove,I’dliketotakeanopportunitytoexpandonthe servicesofferedbyeach,allofwhichareundertheoverallprogrammatic leadershipofCassieStreet,ourimmenselytalentedChiefOperatingOfficer. Theprogramsarehighlightedafterthisarticle,alongwithemaillinksifyou wouldlikeanyadditionalprogramorservicesinformation.

Inconclusion,I’dliketoreiteratethattheserviceswehavebeenabletoprovide overthepast36years,includingthe26,497youthand7,142adultsservedjust lastyearalone,wouldnotbepossiblewithoutthepassionthatourstaffhave forpreventionandrecovery,aswellasthesupportandcollaborationofour communitymembers.Iinviteyoutovisitourwebsiteandvarioussocialmedia platformswhicharededicatedtokeepingyouinformedaboutouragencyand theservicesweoffer.Finally,Iencourageyoutogetinvolvedasyourtimeand resourcesallow.Ihumblyrequestyoursupportaswecontinuetoprovide preventionandrecoveryservicestotheyouthandfamiliesinourcommunity. Youcansupportourmissionthroughyourtimeasavolunteeratanevent, throughyourparticipationasacoalitionmemberoraboardmember,or supportourmissionfinanciallythroughacharitabledonationwhichhelpsus notonlywithlocalgrantmatchingrequirements,butwithongoing programmaticsustainability.Wearegratefulforanylevelofsupportand partnershipyoucanoffer,andIknowthat,together,wecanhelptheyouthand familiesofourcommunitiestoREACHtheirfullpotential.Wishingyouandyour familiesmuchhappiness,prosperityandpeaceasweapproachtheholiday seasonandventureintothenewyear!

WithWarmRegards,

TashaTaylor,MPH,CPH,MCHES ChiefExecutiveOfficer ChiefFinancialOfficer

FY25 Programs Offered by REACH Council Programs Offered by REACH Council

School Programs School Programs

Under the direction of Tom Kowatch - Director, and Ashley Paramore - Assistant Director. For more information or to schedule a presentation or activity, please reach out to either of them via the embedded email links.

Youth Prevention - Selective (YPS)

Kids Connection/Youth Connection:

Provides education to students in 1st-12th grades using the state approved and evidence-based Kids/Youth Connection curriculum (Curriculum Based Support Groups) which was developed by Rainbow Days Inc. The Kids/Youth Connection program is offered in a small group setting ranging from 6 - 12 youth per group. This program consists of 10 sessions (1 - 2x per week) and each session is 30 - 45 minutes. Participants in this program are referred by school personnel, teachers, or parents. Some topics discussed in this program include: feelings, how to handle anger, making healthy choices, and resisting negative peer pressure.

Youth Prevention - Universal (YPU)

Positive Action:

Positive Action is a program offered to 1st - 12th grade students The group size is roughly 25 - 30 youth with each lesson having a required time of 45 minutes total per lesson. This program has a total of 6 units that discuss the following: how to feel about yourself, physical positive actions, intellectual positive actions, social skills and character, mental health, setting and achieving goals.

Guiding Good Choices - Family Program:

The Guiding Good Choices program is offered to 4th - 9th grade students and the group size consists of 8 - 24 adult family members. This program has a total of 6 sessions with each session being 60 - 120 minutes long. Throughout this program, adults learn specific actions that promote healthy development and reduce risky behavior in the teen years. Home practice and weekly family meetings build family connections and help families apply skills to real life. Strong family bonds are emphasized as the key that motivates preteens to follow family guidelines and stay on a course toward better health and educational outcomes.

FY25 Programs Offered by REACH Council Programs Offered by REACH Council

Special Programs Special Programs

Under the direction of Wendy Lewis - Director. For more information on the offerings of our special programs, or to inquire about enrollment as a participant, please reach out to Wendy via the embedded email link.

Youth Prevention - Indicated (YPI)

The Blues Program

Providing education to students in grades 8-12, this curriculum is designed to help youth build skills to support and build their own emotional well-being It is offered in a small group setting of 4 - 8 youth. This program consists of 6 sessions (1 - 2x per week), each session is 1 hour long, as well as home tasks such as mood journaling and other activities. Some topics covered in the Blues Program are: the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions, increasing positive thoughts, counter thoughts, and rewards for new behaviors, challenging negative thoughts and developing new coping strategies, and creating a prevention plan (daily hassles or special events) as well as planning ahead (major life events, future fun).

Youth Recovery Communities (YRC)

YRC is designed to provide peer support to adolescents and young adults, ages 13-21 living in Ellis or Johnson County, who are in recovery or want to be in recovery from substances. Participants work with a Peer Recovery Leader to develop an individualized recovery plan that incorporates individual, group and community support to help that young person in their recovery journey and reach their goals. YRC also provides support to the whole family during the recovery process.

Community

Programs Community Programs

UnderthedirectionofJenniferHeggland-Director,andNikkiBowman-Assistant Director.Formoreinformationontheofferingsofourcommunityprograms,orto inquireaboutbecomingacoalitionmember,pleasereachouttoeitherofthemvia theembeddedemaillinks.

CommunityCoalitionPartnership-Ellis,Hill&JohnsonCounties(CCP3/CCP7)

ThepurposeoftheCommunityCoalitionPartnership(CCP)istoimplement emerging,promisingorevidence-basedstrategiesthatpreventnegativeoutcomes associatedwithsubstanceuseandpromotebehavioralhealth.Strategieswill addressunderlyingfactorsthatleadtosubstanceuseandbehavioralhealth challenges,includingadversechildhoodexperiences,socialdeterminantsofhealth, orotheryouth,familyandcommunityriskandprotectivefactors.

Drug-FreeCommunities(DFC)

TheDFCProgramprovidesgrantstocommunitycoalitionstostrengthenthe infrastructureamonglocalpartnerstocreateandsustainareductioninlocalyouth substanceuse.

TobaccoPrevention&ControlCoalition(TPC)

TheTexasTobaccoPreventionandControlProgramaimstoreducethetollof tobaccouseonthehealth,safety,andwell-beingofallTexans.

SoberTruthOnPreventingUnderageDrinking(STOP)

Thepurposeofthisprogramistopreventandreducealcoholuseamongyouthand youngadultsages12to20incommunitiesthroughouttheUnitedStates.Recipients willimplementactivitiesthatsupportcapacitybuildingsuchasimplementing evidence-basedcommunityapproaches,enhancingcollaboration,cooperation andcoordinationamongcommunities,federal,stateandlocalandtribal governments,andconveningTownHalls.

BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Janice Carey

JaniceCareycurrentlyservesasthetreasureroftheREACHboard.Asa September1988foundingmemberofREACH,shehasservedinvarious capacities.ShewasExecutiveDirectorfromfall1994tosummer2012.She servedassecretaryoftheMidlothianDowntownBusinessAssociationwhile DirectorandhasrepresentedREACHontheMidlothianCivicCenter(MCC) boardsince1995.WhentheMidlothianISDEducationFoundationwasformed, JanicewasaskedtorepresentREACH.Sheenjoyedservingfor10years.

TheCareyfamily,whichincludeshusbandRex(alsoafoundingREACHboard member)andtheirthreechildren-Kristy,Jill&Joel,movedtotheMidlothian communityinthesummerof1978.Schoolactivitiesandsportskeptthewhole familybusy.Astheirdaughtersenteredcollege,Janicereinstatedherreal estatesaleslicenseandworkedfor9yearswithAmericanaRealtors.Inthefall of1991,thedecisiontofinishhercollegedegreewasmade,andsheenteredUT Arlington.Shestudiedsocialworkadministration/communitypracticeand earnedherBachelorofSocialWork(BSW)in1993andaMasterofSciencein SocialWork(MSSW)in1994.

JanicecontinuestoenjoytimeontheMCCandREACHboardssinceher retirementasREACHdirector. Hergreatestenjoymentisinspendingtimewith agrowingfamily,whichatpresentincludeshusband,3children&their spouses,11grandchildren,4granddaughters-in-law,and1grandson-in-law, and3greatgrandchildren.

YOUTH PREVENTION EDUCATION

ThisfalltheYPU/YPSteamwasbusyconductingcurriculumin: MidlothianISDatIrvinElementary,MountainPeakElementary, McClatcheyElementary,FrankSealeMiddleSchoolandDieterich MiddleSchool;JoshuaISDatCaddoGroveElementary,NorthJoshua Elementary,StaplesElementary,ElderElementary,andPlumCreek Elementary;RedOakISDatRedOakMiddleSchool,MaypearlISDat KirkpatrickElementary,WaxahachieatCommonGroundMinistries after-schoolprogram;EnnisISDatTravisElementaryandHouston Elementary.TheYPIstafffacilitatedlessonsontopicssuchas substanceuse,managingemotionsandhealthycopingskillsat JoshuaDAEP,Cleburne,DAEP,andBurlesonDAEP.

InOctober,theYPstaffalongwithotherREACHstaffmembers facilitatedRedRibbonWeekpresentationsandlunchtableactivities acrossEllisCountyandJohnsonCounty.

KRYSLYN & LYNSI

BRENNA

JOEL & KRYSLYN

YOUTH RECOVERY COMMUNITIES

YRC’sFamilyPro-SocialEventsareregular,organizedeventsdesignedto bringparticipantsandfamiliestogethertoengageinfunactivitieswiththe goalofcreatingpro-socialrelationshipswhileexploringteambuildingskills, copingmechanisms,andcreativitywithouttheuseofsubstances.

ThisFall,YRChashostedatriptoShadowCreekPumpkinFarmwhere participantsandtheirfamilieswereprovidedmanyfunopportunities, includingfeedinganimalsatthepettingzoo,pickingapumpkinfromthe pumpkinpatch,targetpracticewithapplecannons,escapingacornmaze, andmore!ThishasbeenYRC’slargesteventtodatewith57RSVPS.Families enjoyedexploringopportunitiesforconnectionandbondingandare lookingforwardtothenextFamilyProsocialEventinDecember!

ParticipantsarehavingsomuchfunengaginginYRC’sevents,aswellas ourweeklyTuesdaynightsupportgroupsandquarterlycommunityservice events!

Upcoming Events

BRENNA, SANDY, KRYSLYN

August

AugustwasofftoabusystartwithmanyBack toSchoolFaireventshappeningasthefirst dayofschoolapproached.Weattended eventsforWaxahachie,RedOak,Midlothian, Ennis,andAlvarado.

REACHhadtheopportunitytopresentattheWISDCounselorsmeetingabout ourprograms,whichareavailableatnocosttotheschooldistrict.

SHARI

TOM

CASSIE

FentanylAwareness&NaloxoneTrainingswereheldfortheRedOakISDpolice department&schoolnurses(left),theWaxahachieISDsecurityteam(right). August

CASSIE

SHARI

COMMUNITY

September

Cassie presentedon Fentanyl Awareness& NaloxoneTraining atMaypearlISD.

REACHparticipatedintheVenusNationalNightOutevent.Staffmembers providedinformationonSafeStorage&DisposalofMedications,theupcoming DEATakeBackDay,Tobacco/VapinginformationandplayedConnect4.

ThankyoutotheVenusPoliceDepartmentforgivingREACHtheopportunityto participateinyourNationalNightOutcelebration.Wehadafabuloustime! CongratulationstoAngieonwinningtheMedSafedrawing!

SHARI, BRANDY, HOLLY

CASSIE

SHARI

October

COMMUNITY

REACHCouncilparticipatedin theRedOakFallFestivalwitha HocusPocustheme.Youthwho camebyourboothchosetheir favoritelollipop,andtheadults playedPlinko,learnedabout SafeStorage&Disposalofyour medications,andthe upcomingDEATakeBackDay.

TheDEADrugTakeBackDaywasahugesuccessforourcommunitymembers tosafelydisposeoftheirexpiredandunusedmedications.Manythankstoour lawenforcementagenciesthatparticipatedandourcommunitypartnersand volunteerswhoassisted.

SHARI, HOLLY, ASHLEY

JAILENE, JOEL, LYNSI, SHARI

HOLLY

HOLLY & TOM

COALITION - REACH ACROSS ELLIS COUNTY

InSeptember,REACHAcrossEllisCountysetupaboothattheEllisCounty EmergencyPreparednessEventheldinEnnis,andprovidedparticipantswith informationonSafeStorage&DisposalofMedications.Narcanwasalsogivento thosewantingtoaddittotheirfirstaidkits.Congratulationstothewinnersofthe medicationsafes:IsraelCuba,RayJ.SmithandCarlaMapps(notpictured).

ThankyoutotheRedOakPDfor invitingustoparticipateatthe NationalNightOuteventon October1st.Itwasafabulous eventandwewereabletoshare informationonSafeStorage& DisposalofMedications,andthe upcomingDrugTakeBackDay.We providedoneluckycommunity memberwithaMedSafe,and providedNarcantocommunity members.Youthenjoyedspinning thewheelforaprize.

BRANDY, ASHLEY, SHARI

SHARI

COALITION - REACH ACROSS HILL COUNTY

REACHAcrossHillCountyisexcitedtobeupandrunning!

DuringRedRibbonWeekwesetup alunchtableatItascaISD,quizzing kidsontheirvapingknowledge andhandingoutREACHtrinketsto smilingstudents.

WealsoparticipatedatalocalDEA PrescriptionDrugTake-Backevent, collaboratingwithHillsboroFire MarshalChrisCaryandotherlocal lawenforcementtogetexpiredand unusedmedicationoutofthe community.

Welookforwardtomanymorecollaborationscomingupinthenearfuture!

SHARI, KRYSLYN, SABRINA

SABRINA