Bully Prevention Team Retreat The group is working on educational materials for

the community and schools.

We would like to give a special THANK YOU toPanorama At the Peak Restaurant for hosting

the retreat and providing excellent hospitality andfood!

Quarterly Newsletter Spring 2013

Dear Partners,

I am happy to report that the Morgan County Partnership has submitted 7 state andfederal grant applications in the last two months. As you all know, the staff, programsand activities of the Partnership are primarily funded by grants. So, putting togetherthese grant applications in an effective and timely manner takes a lot of work. As youmay also know, state and federal funds are being cut; therefore, a large part of my jobhas been seeking out new funding opportunities in order to keep these programs goingin the schools and community. Grants are an essential part of the Partnership's fundingstrategy. Our local fundraising efforts are very minimal because we recognize thatother community agencies are also fighting for the community's charitable dollars. Weare looking to expand our funding strategies and welcome any new ideas, which willkeep these key concepts in mind. In the upcoming year, the Partnership is seekingfunding sources for prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery and positive youthasset development. Our goal is to bring in regional and state resources to the localcommunity.

In the meantime, I welcome your feedback and suggestions about the Partnership'sprograms and/or funding efforts. I can be reached at the office at 304-258-7807 or byemail at kristin@morganpartnership.org. We are grateful for the community's continuedsupport of our programs and the staff and I will continue to work hard in order to keepthose programs and resources in Morgan County.

Sincerely, Kristin WillardExecutive Director

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

While communities are faced with a number of substance abuseissues, underage drinking continues to be the most persistent, withnearly 11 million underage drinkers today. In Morgan County, onaverage, students report first trying alcohol around the age of 12and 76.7% of high school seniors perceive alcohol as the easiestdrug to access (easier to get than Tobacco, which was 76.3%)according to the 2011 Pride Survey. Every grade surveyed (6-12)

Ask the Experts

To listen to previouslyrecorded shows,

click on the ad above.

Don't Forget to tune in everySunday morning at 9:15am onWDHC 92.9 FM. This showfocuses on youth issues thateffect our school, family and

community. If you have a topic that you want

us to address on our show,contact us at

info@morganpartnership.org

Upcoming Events:

4/26/13: MCP BreakfastMeeting from 8am-9am at

First Church

4/27/13: Rx Take Back Dayfrom 10am-2pm at

Rankin's Fitness CenterClick Here for NationalDrug Take Back FAQ

was above the national average for Annual Use of Alcohol (thismeans that our students are drinking more annually than the rest ofthe nation.)

28.9 % of our 7th graders reported using alcohol in the pastyear (9.6% higher than the national average which is 19.3%).53.1% of our 9th graders reported using alcohol in the pastyear (9.1% higher than the national average which is 44%).71.8% of our 12th graders reported using alcohol in the pastyear (7.6% higher than the national average which is 64.2%)

Despite these barriers that Morgan County faces, positivemeasures are being taken to help curb this epidemic. ThePartnership developed an Underage Drinking Prevention TaskForce that works with law enforcement, the schools, localbusinesses, and the county government to work on strategies thataddress the alcohol issue in the county, specifically underagedrinking. One of the key members of the group, Leslie Hotaling,has volunteered her time to be the regional TIPS trainer. TIPSstands for "Training for Intervention ProcedureS" which is a skills-based training program designed to prevent intoxication, drunkdriving and underage drinking by enhancing the fundamental"people skills" of servers, sellers and consumers of alcohol. TIPSgives individuals the knowledge and confidence they need torecognize potential alcohol-related problems and intervene toprevent alcohol-related tragedies. The Underage Drinking Task Force also works with the MorganCounty Sheriff's Department that graciously provides officers to doAlcohol Compliance Checks in local establishments. Since Promand Graduation parties are just around the corner, parents alsoneed to be aware of what they can do to help deter their childrenfrom engaging in risky behavior such as drinking. NOT providingalcohol for their kids is the first thing they can do. Talking to theirchild about the consequences of drinking is another importantprevention action that can make a world of difference, and possiblya life or death decision. For more information about this topic, aswell as other drug-related issues, feel free to contact ShamusCleveland, Program Facilitator, at 304-258-7807.

4/30/13: "Morgan CountyWalks" Event Kick-Off12pm-1pm at Widmyer

Community Park Click Here for more

information 5/08/13: Paw Paw

Community Meeting at6pm, location TBA

5/13/13: UnderageDrinking Prevention TaskForce meeting from 3pm-

4pm at MCP Office

5/14/13: Prescription DrugPrevention Task Forcefrom 12-1pm at MCP

Office

5/15/13: Governor'sRegional Task Force onSubstance Abuse from

1pm-3:30pm, location TBAClick here for more

information

6/07/13: MCP BreakfastMeeting from 8am-9am at

First Church

7/26/13: Youth Art &Entertainment In the Parkfrom 6-8:30pm at BerkeleySprings State Park, details

TBA

7/27-7/28/2013: MorganCounty Fair , details TBA

MORGAN COUNTYSHERIFF'S TIP LINE:

The First Youth Leadership Day Was a Great

Success On February 12, 2013, the first Youth Leadership Day was held. The goal of the Youth Leadership Day was to engage high schoolstudents to participate in a one day conference that focused ondeveloping the students' peer leadership skills that can be utilizedat their school, extra-curricular activities and in the community. Topics for this event included: Running and Planning a Meeting,Public Speaking, Goal Setting and Decision Making andProfessional Dress and Demeanor. Judge Gina Groh (pictured above) delivered the keynote andtalked with the students about "What is Leadership?". Otherspeakers included Kristin Willard, Morgan County PartnershipExecutive Director, Cindy Smalley and Denis Scott, both of WVUExtension, Hannah Stewart, Program Coordinator for StartingPoints and Sean Bryner, Morgan County Probation Officer. ThenGary McDaniel, School Social Worker, completed the evaluationand wrap up for the day. The planning committee for the Leadership Day anticipates makingthis an annual event. The feedback provided by the students willbe used to develop future programming. To view more photos from this event go to the Morgan CountyPartnership's Facebook Page.

Morgan County Partnership is awarded a BehavioralHealth Grant

304-258-2450 This line is available

24 hours a day, 7 daysa week

Help them keep our

community safe!

VolunteersNeeded!

The Morgan County

Partnership is always inneed of volunteers to workon community task forces,

help plan and organizeevents, and general officeassistance, including data

entry. If you are interested in

giving your time to support alocal non-profit organization,please contact at us at 304-258-7807 or return the the

volunteer form below.

Contact Information:

Morgan CountyPartnership

2 6 Chapman Street Berkeley Springs, WV

25411

Phone: 304-258-7807 Fax: 304-258-7710

Check out our webpage at www.morganpartnership.org!

Engage. Educate.

Empower.

In February 2013, the Morgan County Partnership wasawarded a $50,000 grant through the West Virginia BehavioralHealth and Health Facilities. These funds will go towards fundingthe Morgan County School-Based SBIRT (Screening, BriefIntervention, and Referral to Treatment)Program. SBIRT is an evidence-based practice used to identify,reduce, and prevent problematic use, abuse, and dependence onalcohol and illicit drugs.

The main goal of this program is to improve the overall health andwell-being of youth in Morgan County. This will be accomplishedby improving youth access to substance abuse and/or mentalhealth intervention and treatment programs by implementing theSBIRT Program in Morgan County schools. The Morgan CountySchool-Based SBIRT Program targets youth 12-18 years old. Activities that make up the program include Health ScreeningDays in the schools, training guidance counselors on the CRAFFTscreening tool, implementing and coordinating the SBIRT servicesin the schools, and tracking student progress. Overall, by providing a continuum of care for youth substanceabuse and mental health issues, the Morgan County School-BasedSBIRT Program has the potential to positively impact the healthoutcomes for youth today and for future generations.

The School-Based 40 Developmental Asset Program is inSession

The in-school program promoting The 40 Developmental Assetssuccessfully began on Thursday, March 14, 2013. For 30 minuteseach Thursday, all fifth grade classes at Warm Springs Intermediate

School are visited by a community volunteer. Volunteers arescheduled for the remainder of the 2012-2013 academic schoolyear. There are approximately 135 students in the fifth grade, andthey all participate in the program. Five successful weeks of the Assets Program have beencompleted. Seven different volunteers have visited the classroomswith a wide variety of topics. These topics do not involve specificassets, rather children are introduced to topics that can be usefuland meaningful to them, while simultaneously building their assets. Topics that have been presented in the last four weeks include: Self-esteem, healthy choices, pet care & volunteerism, science garden,stress & coping and financial literacy. All of the activities engagestudents and require them to actively participate. One of thepresenters brings a dog to the class with her and this is a big hit withthe students! The students are also given things to take home aftersome of the presentations. The schedule for the remainder of the school year includes sevenvolunteers, four of them have not yet presented. These next topicsinclude: science garden, team work & dedication, woodworking,drawing, pet care & volunteerism (part 2), turtles hurdles (live turtleswill accompany the presenter!) and goal setting & high expectations. Volunteers have already donated 20 in-school hours to support thisprogram at the school, and at least 30 hours more will be donated bythe end of the year. If you would like to volunteer or would like moreinformation about the 40 Developmental Assets, contact AmeriCorpVISTA, Angela Lawrence at angela@morganpartnership.org .

Above the Influence Contest Winners

The Morgan County Partnership held its first annual "Above theInfluence" Art and Writing contest in the Fall of 2012. Above theInfluence is a Nation-Wide Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign thatinspires youth to talk about how they deal with the influences thathelp shape their decisions. The goal is to give youth anotherperspective on how to stand up to negative pressures or influencesin their lives. October 18th, 2012 kicked off the Above the Influence in MorganCounty campaign by holding two creative contests for grades 6-12.The first contest was a Youth Expressions Art Project wherestudents designed their own creative expression using the Abovethe Influence "arrow" logo. Students were asked to base theirdesign and integration on how they stand up to negative pressures,think critically about substance abuse, reject negative influencesand embrace positive influences in their lives. A total of 152 entrieswere turned in to the Partnership. The second contest was a Creative Writing competition that askedstudents to creatively express their views on positive and negativeinfluences in their lives, and how they stay "above them". Stories,poems, plays and other types of creative writings were allcollected, totaling 148 entries turned in. Through funds from the WV NYLI (National Youth LeadershipInitiative), 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners received gift cards, aMorgan County Partnership t-shirt, and an award certificate.

The Art Contest winners of the high school age bracket were:Kyleen Kelley (1st place), Kati LaRue (2nd place), and EmilyDefibaugh(3rd place). The Art Contest winners of the middleschool age bracket were: Payton Brown (1st place) and AbiHovermale (2nd place). The Creative Writing Contest winners for the high school agebracket were: Rebecca Montague (1st place) and CatherineWatson(2nd place). The Creative Writing winners for the middleschool age bracket were: Catherine Myers (1st place) and HannahSalman(2nd place). To see the winning entries, go to the Morgan County Partnership'sFacebook page. _____________________________________________________________

DON'T FORGET:

Mark all that apply: ( ) I am requesting membership information( ) I would like to become a volunteer for the Coalition( ) I would like to make a donation to the Morgan County Partnership Amount: _____________

Name: __________________________________ Phone: _____________________ Email:_____________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________ Special Interests/Skills: ____________________________________________________________________________ Mail to: Morgan County Partnership, 26 Chapman Street, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411Make checks payable to the Morgan County Partnership. THANK YOU!!The Morgan County Partnership is a 501 (C) 3 Non-Profit.