Dear Coalition Partners,
The Northampton Prevention Coalition is entering a new phase. Please read on to learn about NPC developments and NPC-created and sponsored resources that are now available to families.
First, our long standing and wonderful Coalition Coordinator, Ananda Lennox, has accepted a new position leading the West Springfield CARE Coalition. Join us in wishing her the best! Her good spirit, humor and intelligence will be missed greatly!
Second, despite losing our beloved leader, NPC lives on. The dedicated and talented NPC Steering Committee will be plotting the course for our Coalition’s future. The Steering Committee will continue the important work of youth substance abuse prevention and will be searching for new funding streams to continue this critical service to the Northampton community. If you would like to join or have ideas about needs or resources, please let us know (contact info below).
Follow our updates on Facebook and our website www.northamptonprevents.org.
Lastly, NPC has some new resources newly available for our families and schools:
1. The Parent/Student Directories for JFK Middle School and NHS are now available on ASPEN (login required). Each Directory is designed to promote connection and encourage communication between school community families. See the attached Parent Link Tool Kit for more information. Feel free to promote as you see fit.
2. SVAHS also decided to participate in creating a directory, but it is an OPT IN only directory. So if you have a student/family at SVAHS who wants to be included in the directory, they need to visit northamptonprevents.org to sign up. The SVAHS directory is accessible on Plus Portal.
3.. The Parent Link Tool Kit is also finished and can be promoted to school community families. The Tool Kit is a resource guide for families with students between grades 6-12. Families can turn to the Tool Kit for information on how to have meaningful conversations with their kids and other families about drugs and alcohol, tips on preventing under age use, information of limit setting, the Social Host Law, and much more.
More information about The Parent LinkTool Kit can be found at www.northamptonprevents.org
4.. eCHECKUP TO Go: Helping teens evaluate their cannabis and nicotine use and learn about dating violence. NPC co-sponsored a subscription to eCHECK UP TO GO allowing Northampton youth to evaluate their own marijuana and nicotine use by engaging in free, confidential , quick, online self assessments designed specifically for teens. A teen’s own assessment can be an important step in his/her/their own substance abuse prevention (OR – CHOICE FOR GOOD HEALTH?!) . Please share this resource with NHS and SVAHS students so they may check in on themselves on their nicotine use, marijuana use and to get accurate and important information on dating violence and its prevention. Active links are available here:
■Cannabis eCHECKUP TO GO
URL: https://echeckup.sdsu.edu/usa/mj/hs/northampton
■Nicotine eCHECKUP TO GO
URL: https://interwork.sdsu.edu/echeckup/tobacco/campus/northampton
■Sexual Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)
URL: https://interwork.sdsu.edu/echeckup/svp/campus/northampton.
ECheck-uptoGo is available through September 2021.
4. Lastly, if you need to reach NPC via email or phone, please reach out to npc@gmail.com, or the NPS Director of Health, Safety, and Equity, Lisa Safron, at 413-587-1364 and lsafron@northampton-k12.us.
A Happy New Year to you all!
The Northampton Prevention Coalition