Community Prevention & Overdose Awareness

• Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust Partnership: Continued expanding local overdose prevention efforts through funding awarded to Share Health Southeast Georgia on behalf of CHAC, supporting community education, prevention resources, and partner-led initiatives.

• CDC Foundation Subcommittee: Established an active subcommittee bringing together community partners to address opioid misuse, overdose prevention, stigma, and recovery support.

• Community Drug Take-Back Events: Partnered with local organizations and law enforcement to promote safe medication disposal, including the April event that collected more than eight pounds of unused medications and the October 21 event at Baxley Wellness Pharmacy.

• Community Conversations: Hosted a community discussion in June focused on strengthening awareness, collaboration, and local prevention efforts.

• Community Mini-Grant Program: Provided funding opportunities for local organizations to implement prevention education, outreach, and community engagement initiatives.

Community Partnerships & Mini-Grant Projects

• Celebrate Recovery: Partnered with Celebrate Recovery to strengthen prevention outreach and recognized the organization's fifth annual celebration of recovery, hope, and healing.

• Temple of the Higher Calling: Supported faith-based opioid misuse and suicide prevention awareness events, including a community tailgating event reaching 60 participants.

• Mayor's Youth Council: Supported the youth-led "Pills Kill" awareness campaign, with prevention materials distributed during the Appling County High School Homecoming football game.

• Gents & Glam: Supported youth leadership, life skills, and substance misuse prevention initiatives.

• Baxley Fire Department: Supported the development of a Junior Firefighter Leadership and Prevention Day Camp to engage youth in leadership, safety, and prevention education.

Training & Capacity Building

• Youth Mental Health First Aid & Mental Health First Aid: Expanded opportunities for adults and community professionals to develop skills for recognizing and responding to mental health challenges.

• Community Resiliency Model (CRM): Continued developing local training opportunities focused on stress management, resilience, and emotional well-being.

• Connections Matter: Supported community education focused on relationships, adverse childhood experiences, and building protective factors.

• Two-Day Prevention Capacity Building Workshop: Hosted a September workshop focused on youth substance use prevention, coalition development, strategic planning, and sustainable funding opportunities.

• First Responder Engagement: Continued working with local public safety agencies to expand access to behavioral health education and prevention training.

Youth & Family Engagement

• Red Ribbon Week: Promoted healthy, substance-free choices through school-centered prevention messaging and community awareness campaigns.

• Kinship Caregiver Support: Continued developing resources and support opportunities for grandparents and relatives raising children, including a July caregiver focus group.

• Youth Leadership & Prevention: Strengthened partnerships with schools and youth-serving organizations to encourage positive decision-making, leadership, and healthy lifestyles.

Community Collaboration

• First Responders Appreciation Event: Helped bring together approximately 250 attendees in May to recognize first responders and strengthen community relationships.

• Coalition Meetings & Partner Engagement: Continued bringing together representatives from healthcare, education, public safety, faith-based organizations, local government, and community organizations to address local health priorities.