The Empowering Newsletter: October

Hello Friends and Community Partners,

There's always more we can do when we work together. In this month's newsletter, we're sharing resources to help strengthen our community efforts, including a toolkit for evaluating coalition effectiveness and information on how local conversations can help prevent substance misuse.

We hope you'll find something useful to share with your organization, your neighbors, or someone who may need a little extra support. Thank you for continuing to be part of Empowering Piedmont and the work we're doing across our communities.

Why Community Conversations Matter

Preventing substance misuse starts with understanding what's happening in our communities. SAMHSA's Communities Talk initiative highlights how local organizations, schools, and community members are coming together to raise awareness and encourage prevention. It's a good reminder that everyone has a role to play, whether that's sharing information, attending an event, or simply starting a conversation.

Strengthening Our Coalition Together

As a coalition, we know how important it is to regularly look at what's working and where we can improve. The Coalition Readiness & Effectiveness Assessment Toolkit, developed by Omni Institute, gives us a way to evaluate our efforts, hear from our members, and identify opportunities to grow.

The assessment focuses on areas like leadership, member involvement, communication, and the impact of our work. By taking the time to reflect on these areas, we can make better decisions and continue working toward our shared goals.

We encourage our coalition members and community partners to explore the toolkit and learn more about how we can strengthen our efforts together.

View the Assessment Toolkit

Health Advocacy & Awareness

Read our article on youth nicotine dependence and the essential steps toward recovery within the Piedmont community.

Understanding Vaping Addiction Help and Its Impact in Farmville, VA

If you or your teen vapes and can't seem to stop, it's nicotine dependence, and it's treatable. Quick Answer: How Common Is Youth Vaping, and How Do You Quit? CDC reports reveal high usage, but quitting is possible with a plan.

Full Article

Empowering Piedmont

To increase awareness and knowledge to address substance use disorder in the Piedmont area.