Greater Valley Substance Abuse Action Council to hold prevention conference Sept. 24

Jeffrey Nielsen

Pina Violano

The Greater Valley Substance Abuse Action Council will hold its 25th Anniversary A Piece of the Prevention Puzzle Conference on Sept. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Anthony’s Ocean View, 450 Lighthouse Road, in New Haven.

Theresa Conroy

This year’s conference focuses on internet safety, emotional intelligence, and prescription pill and heroin use. Participants will learn practical tools and skills from nationally recognized experts. The cost of the workshop is $75. Continental breakfast and deli lunch are included and continuing education and training credits are available.

The conference will also feature VSAAC’s 2015 Community Champion Awards. The awards are given to those in the community who take action and effect change in the field of substance abuse prevention and/or intervention activities. The awards spotlight and applaud the work that is being done to help prevent substance abuse on the grass-roots, community level - work that is absolutely critical to VSAAC’s efforts to keep our kids safe from alcohol, tobacco, drug use, suicide, risky behaviors, and promote good mental health in the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Greater New Haven and surrounding communities.

Carol Cruz

This year’s Community Champions include Carol Cruz, CCAR Project Manager for the Young Adult and Families Program; Jeffrey Nielsen, Sergeant, Milford Police Department; Theresa Conroy, State Representative, APRN for Minute Clinic and Pina Violano, Injury Prevention Coordinator, Yale-New Haven Hospital.

For more information or to register, visit www.vsaac.org

VSAAC, a program of BHcare, is a public/private partnership comprised of community leaders and citizens who develop and carry out strategies to reduce alcohol, tobacco, drug use, suicide, risky behaviors, and promote good mental health among youth and, over time, among adults through community education, community mobilization, public awareness, and advocacy in the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Greater New Haven and surrounding communities.

This is a press release from BHcare.