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Posted on September 23, 2008

Walk to Prevent Suicide: October 11

The Rockport Elementary School’s East campus will be the starting point of the first ever “Out of the Darkness” Community Walk, the 5K fundraising and awareness walk that will benefit the Maine chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Funds raised will help to support local and national suicide prevention and awareness programs. The Coastal Maine walk takes place on Saturday, October 11, with check in at 9:00 a.m. and the non-competitive walk at 10:00 a.m.

The Coastal Maine “Out of the Darkness” Walk is one of 150 walks being held this fall nationwide, from September through early November. In addition to the local walk, four other walks have or will take place in Maine: Portland, Bangor, Presque Isle and Waterville. Nationally, the walks are expected to unite over 30,000 walkers and raise over $2.5 million for AFSP. Those interested may pre-register and fundraise online at www.outofthedarkness.org or solicit donations from friends and co-workers using a sponsor sheet found on the website and register at the walk itself.

For more information about the local walk, contact Julie Clement or John Long at Long Funeral Home at (207) 236-0092, or contact Dalene Dutton at (207) 236-9800 or dalene@fivetownctc.org.

For more information about the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, contact Rhoda Freeman at 207-822-9989, or email her at rfreeman@afsp.org.

Posted on September 2, 2008

CTC Lands Federal Funding

Five Town Communities That Care recently learned that it has been awarded a grant through the federal Drug Free Communities Support Program—which will provide up to $125,000 each year for five years—to support its coalition activities to prevent substance abuse in the five-town community of Appleton, Camden, Hope, Lincolnville, and Rockport. 
 
"This funding will allow us to continue to build our capacity to promote healthy youth development, and to do a better job at getting information out to the community," stated Five Town CTC Executive Director Dalene Dutton.  "In today’s tough economic climate, getting a grant like this makes a huge difference to a small nonprofit agency like ours.  To my knowledge we were the only new coalition in Maine funded by this program this year.  We are very proud that we were able to compete successfully with organizations all over the country—not just because our community has a need, but also because our Coalition has a proven track record."
 
The Drug Free Communities Support Program is an initative sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in order to 1) strengthen collaboration among communities, private nonprofit agencies, and Federal, State, and local governments to support the efforts of community coalitions to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth; and 2) reduce substance abuse among youth and, over time, among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of substance abuse and promoting the factors  that minimize the risk of substance abuse.
 
Funding through the program is not to be used to deliver programs, but is instead designed to focus on increasing the capacity of the coalition to promote healthy youth development and prevent substance abuse, and for the coalition to implement environmental strategies such as media campaigns or comprehensive reviews of local policies and procedures dealing with youth substance abuse.
 
Camden Police Chief Philip Roberts was pleased to hear of the award. "What great news to hear that Five Town Communities That Care has received this grant.  While the five town area has a number of various civic groups willing and able to address the issues of substance abuse and factors that put youth at risk, I know of no other organization that collaborates so well with so many resources to actually make this happen.  How much better it is to have these issues addressed now than to deal with them as problems in the courts and hospitals later in life," Roberts said.
 
Others in the community were also glad to learn of the award.  Dr. J. Luke Engeriser, MD, a psychiatrist at PenBay Medical Center in Rockport said,  "The Coalition has made a significant impact on public health issues in our community—including reducing youth substance abuse and suicide.  This grant will help Five Town CTC continue their important work."
 
"I have been associated with Five Town Communities That Care since its inception in 2003," shared Rev. Adam Kohlstrom, Pastor of Chestnut Street Baptist Church in Camden.  "I remain just as excited about and committed to its mission to promote healthy youth development and to prevent problem adolescent behaviors here in the five town community.  Because of my involvement with youth, I know first-hand just how important the work of Five Town CTC is to our students.  News of this grant leaves me elated, for I know the good that will be accomplished as a result of it."
 
Five Town Communities That Care has received congratulations from Maine’s Office of Substance Abuse, and from elected officials. "Community drug-free programs are important to building safe and healthy communites." said U.S. Senators Snowe and Collins in a joint statement.  "We are pleased to see this funding supporting the Five Town Communities That Care Coalition"
 
U. S. Representative Tom Allen wrote, "With these funds, the community can now move forward with its thoughtful, comprehensive plan to reduce substance abuse by promoting positive youth development and preventing problem behavior."
 
For more information about the Drug Free Communities Support Program, visit www.http://www.ondcp.gov/dfc/.  For more information about Five Town Communities That Care, contact Dalene Dutton at (207) 236-9800, by emailing dalene@fivetownctc.org, or by visiting www.fivetownctc.org.
 

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