Brevard Prevention Coalition Inc

MAKING FLORIDA'S SPACE COAST A SAFE, FRIENDLY, AND GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY. OUR FOCUS IS REDUCING SUBSTANCE MISUSE AMONG YOUTHS AND IN THE COMMUNITY AT-LARGE, AS WELL AS PROMOTING POSITIVE LIFE CHOICES.

BREVARD PREVENTION COALITION STARTED AND OPERATES BREVARD COUNTY'S OPIOID MISUSE TASK FORCE. AS PART OF THAT INITIATIVE, THE COALITION HAS PROVIDED RESOURCES, TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND EDUCATION TO THE ENTIRE SPACE COAST COMMUNITY. THE COALITION CREATED THE COUNTY'S OFFICIAL OPIOID ABATEMENT PLAN, A REQUIREMENT NEEDED IN ORDER FOR THE COUNTY TO RECEIVE FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL SETTLEMENT WITH PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES PASSED DOWN TO THE STATES. THE TASK FORCE CONSISTS OF SUBCOMMITTEES THAT ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING FOUR DOMAINS: 1) EDUCATION & PREVENTION, 2) CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 3) TREATMENT & RECOVERY AND 4) HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. OUTSIDE OF THE TASK FORCE INITIATIVE, THE COALITION ANNUALLY UTILIZES OR HELPS LEVERAGE GRANT FUNDS, AND ON AVERAGE, SENDS 50 LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD OF ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TO THE NATIONAL RX DRUG ABUSE AND HEROIN SUMMIT.

BREVARD PREVENTION COALITION STARTED AND FACILITATED BREVARD COUNTY'S OPIOID MISUSE TASK FORCE. AS PART OF THAT INITIATIVE, THE COALITION PROVIDED RESOURCES, TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND EDUCATION TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY. THE COALITION CONTRIBUTED HEAVILY TO THE CREATION OF COUNTY'S OFFICIAL OPIOID ABATEMENT PLAN. THE OPIOID MISUSE TASK FORCE CONSISTS OF SUBCOMMITTEES: 1) EDUCATION AND PREVENTION; 2) TREATMENT & RECOVERY; 3) CRIMINAL JUSTICE; AND 4) MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. THE COALITION ALSO UTILIZED ITS FUNDING TO PRESENT AT THE NATIONAL RX & ILLICIT DRUG SUMMIT AND BRING 50 ATTENDEES, MOSTLY LAW ENFORCEMENT, FROM FOUR CENTRAL FLOIRDA COUNTIES, INCLUDING BREVARD.

THE COALITION HAS ANNUAL COMMUNITY EVENTS: 1) MOVE INTO LIGHT - AN OUTDOOR COMMUNITY AWARENESS EVENT AIMED AT REMOVING THE STIGMA OF SEEKING SERVICES FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND/OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES (ALSO PREPPED TO BECOME A NEW SOCIAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN) AND 2) BREVARD RECOVERY FESTIVAL - A OUTDOOR COMMUNITY EVENT AIMED AT GENERATIONAL PREVENTION THROUGH PROMOTING SUBSTANCE USE RECOVERY AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTED COURTZ KING, INVOLVING YOUTH IN SUMMER NIGHTS BASKETBALL GAMES AND ONE BIG INDOOR BASKETBALL GAME WITH SPECIAL GUEST THE PROFESSOR AT VIERA HIGH SCHOOL WHERE WE PROMOTED OUR I CHOOSE ME SOCIAL MOVEMENT TO MOTIVATE INDIVIDUALS TOWARD A BETTER LIFE. IT STARTS WITH KNOWING YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE BETTER FOR YOURSELF. ALCOHOL OR DRUGS ARE NEVER A GOOD OPTION TO GET YOU THROUGH TOUGH TIMES. POSITIVE CHOICES LEAD YOU TO YOUR BEST POSSIBLE FUTURE, AND WE WANT TO HELP GUIDE YOU TOWARD THIS PATH.

THE COALITION ANNUALY HOSTS COMMUNITY EVENTS: 1) MOVE INTO LIGHT AN OUTDOOR COMMUNITY AWARENESS EVENT BASED ON A SUBSTANCE MISUSE PREVENTION INITIATIVE. THE EVENT WAS AIMED AT REDUCING THE STIGMA OF SUBSTANCE MISUSE, ADDICTION, AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS INCLUDE: THE DEA TAKE BACK EVENT AIMED AT COLLECTING UNUSED/EXPIRED MEDICATIONS WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT; THE "SHOW UP FEST" WHICH PROMOTES MENTAL HEALTH ACTIVITIES, BRINGS AWARENESS TO SUICIDE AND ITS CONNECTION TO ADDICTION; "RED RIBBON WEEK" EDUCATING STUDENTS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF UNDERAGE DRINKING AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE, AND PROVIDING THEM RESOURCES.

BREVARD PREVENTION COALITION PARTNERED WITH THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITIONS OF ORANGE, OSCEOLA, AND SEMINOLE COUNTIES TO CREATE THE REGIONAL "I CHOOSE ME" SOCIAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN WHICH HELPS YOUTHS AND FAMILIES INCREASE THEIR PROTECTIVE FACTORS AGAINST SUBSTANCE MISUSE. BREVARD PREVENTION COALITION IS THE PRIMARY ORGANIZATION DRIVING THAT CAMPAIGN WHICH IS IN USE THROUGHOUT BREVARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE "I CHOOSE ME" CAMPAIGN HAS UTILIZED VARIOUS MEDIA FORMATS, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA, TO REACH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE CENTRAL FLORIDA AREA.

BREVARD PREVENTION COALITION UTILIZED THE "I CHOOSE ME" YOUTH AND FAMILY-FOCUSED SUBSTANCE MISUSE PREVENTION INITIATIVE THROUGH VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS VIA A VARIETY OF MEDIA FORMATS, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA AND STREAMING PLATFORMS TO REACH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE CENTRAL FLORIDA AREA.