Building Strong COMMUNITIES
Reaching across invisible borders and boundaries and effectively leveraging resources to fill the gaps in services where needed
May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
We’re Social
Gratitude isn't just a once-a-year thing—it's a game-changer for everyday life! 🌟✨ Cultivating mindfulness about the things you cherish doesn't just bring contentment, it transforms you into a beacon of positivity for others. 💖🤗 Let's make gratitude a daily habit, weaving it into our lives and relationships. Let's inspire each other to live a life filled with appreciation!
⚠️ Approximately 50% of people who misuse prescription pain medicines get them from a friend or family member. Don't share unused #opioids. Find out about safe opioid disposal and spread the word! www.FDA.gov/DrugDisposal #RemoveOpioidRisk
#ICYMI: the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2022 results have been released. Check out the full report and the new infographic overview here: www.samhsa.gov/data/release/2022-national-survey-drug-use-and-health-nsduh-releases #NSDUH![]()
![]()
📲 Need to talk? Reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline anytime - talk or text!
November 28, 2023![]()
![]()
News for Immediate Release…![]()
![]()
Community Connections Partners with Hope in Action Alliance to Impact Coalitions and Build Youth Resilience with Teen Court Programs ![]()
PRINCETON, WV – Community Connections, Inc. (CCI) is excited to announce that they have partnered with the West Virginia Hope in Action Alliance (WVHIAA) to help produce innovative and impactful prevention strategies with coalitions across West Virginia! ![]()
![]()
Beginning December 1st, thanks to a federal State Opioid Response (SOR) pass through grant from the WV Bureau of Behavioral Health, CCI and the WVHIAA will engage in expanding reach to community coalitions across the state; helping encourage volunteer engagement and changing the local vision and hopefulness of the communities in which they serve. The partnership will also encourage participation with the local judicial system by creating or supporting youth (teen) courts across the mountain state!![]()
![]()
“Community Connections has over 30 years of history of expanding the coalition movement on local, regional and statewide levels,” said CCI Executive Director, Greg Puckett. “This partnership will allow us to have a more unified prevention message and allow for expanded creativity of a local coalition to showcase a new vision through a community change model! This could be through investment of the arts in a defined geographic area, cleanup efforts to increase community participation and pride, or something as simple as engaging all sectors to change areas that promote positive lifestyles and youth involvement! Add that to our development, or expansion, of teen courts around the state, and we feel confident that this partnership will have a long lasting impact beyond the current grant cycle!” ![]()
![]()
To do this, these organizations will work together to develop and establish procedures to support a work plan that increases statewide efforts that builds and develops community coalitions and prevention programs, such as introducing Teen Court to five counties with implementation in at least three counties. ![]()
![]()
When asked about the partnership, Mary Newlyn, Executive Director of the Alliance said, " As the state coalition for mental health and substance use disorder, we are excited to work with our partners at Community Connections to build healthier communities across West Virginia. Each community we serve has unique needs and varying levels of capacity. This effort expands the collective vision to build partnerships which are effective in obtaining opportunities to provide coalitions with additional support.”![]()
![]()
Bob Hansen, Chair of the Board for the WVHIAA added, “This collaboration is an excellent opportunity to showcase and strengthen community coalitions in West Virginia. The key to building resiliency and assets that we all can draw on lies in our communities. This partnership will help to build and support local efforts throughout the state.”![]()
![]()
The grant will continue until September 30, 2024, with the hope of continued service and sustainability with other funding moving forward. ![]()
![]()
For additional information, please contact Greg Puckett at 304-913-4956 / greg.puckett@strongcommunities.org or Mary Newlyn at 304-207-0226 / director@wvhiaa.org. ![]()
About Community Connections, Inc.![]()
![]()
Located in the heart of southern Appalachia, Community Connections, Inc. (CCI) is a private, non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in the communities that we serve. Founded in 1990 as an outgrowth of the West Virginia Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Families, the agency has continued to expand its mission for the development of community-driven initiatives that promote strong, healthy lifestyles.![]()
![]()
Since its inception, Community Connections has reached across invisible borders and boundaries and effectively leveraged its resources to fill the gaps in services where needed. By doing so, CCI has used its ‘environmental change’ strategy to be a leader in…![]()
• Advocating for public policy change;![]()
• Building and sustaining coalitions;![]()
• Program development and implementation; and![]()
• Initiation of prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery programs.![]()
![]()
Community Connections is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with representatives from the leadership of social service initiatives, mental/physical health, educational organizations, and community representatives who are consumers of public services. They pride themselves on collaborative efforts that build strong communities!![]()
![]()
About West Virginia Hope in Action Alliance![]()
![]()
The mission of the WVHIAA is to connect community sectors across West Virginia through collaboration, communication, and facilitation of innovative solutions to address mental health and substance use disorder and their effects in the state. They believe that communities in West Virginia will be stronger by fostering connections and building environments where everyone will have the opportunity to thrive. ![]()
![]()
WV Hope in Action Alliance![]()
![]()
The WVHIAA are dedicated to…![]()
![]()
• Moving beyond the status quo because change is possible.![]()
• Seeking opportunities to work with community stakeholders through creating strong partnerships.![]()
• Cultivating an inclusive environment resulting in innovative long-term solutions; representation across sectors, lived experiences, content expertise, cultures, and geographic regions.![]()
![]()
StigmaFree WV![]()
Help & Hope WV![]()
PREVENTION FIRST
We Are Committed
to growing a healthier, stronger community for youth and their families through collaboration and implementation of unique, innovative approaches. We’re dedicated to growing caring, motivated, integrated, and substance-free citizens of our community.
