Berks County Council on Chemical Abuse honors 7 for their work in substance use prevention

Karen Shuey, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·2 min read

May 17—The Berks County Council on Chemical Abuse recognized National Prevention Week with a special celebration.

The celebration Wednesday included an awards presentation, tours of the prevention department at the nonprofit organization and games. About 60 people attended the event, which took place at the RISE Recovery Center in Reading.

Awards were presented to seven individuals for their work in the field of substance use prevention:

—Heather Boyer — program director for the Reading Recreation Commission.

—Anita Miller — community prevention partnership program coordinator for Project Peace and the Northeast Community Springboard Coalition.

—Ericka Garcia — an elementary social worker at Wilson School District.

—1st Sgt. Joseph Cipko — leader of the JROTC at Reading School District.

—Alycia Lenhart — student support coordinator at Exeter School District.

—Mike Reese — a COCA consultant.

—Logan Long — a COCA intern from Alvernia University.

In addition, the Pat Ganter Scholarship was presented to Katelynn Humbles. The $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually by COCA to a Berks County teen pursuing a career related to substance use prevention, treatment or recovery.

Humbles, who will graduate from Conrad Weiser High School in June, is planning on attending Kutztown University to study art education.

Alicia Kline, the prevention program supervisor for COCA, said the awards are an opportunity to recognize the valuable work of prevention professionals who teach youth and the community the facts about substances and the skills to lead healthy, substance-free lives.

"While there is sadness and heartbreak in this disease of addiction there is also hope and joy," Kline said "There is hope in recovery and there is hope in all we do in prevention. Prevention provides critical skills youth and families need to avoid the devastation of addiction, and that is beautiful and important."

Following the award presentation, the COCA Prevention Department opened its doors to attendees. Last summer, the prevention department moved to its current office next to the RISE Recovery Center at 702 N. Eighth St.

Participants were able to see the new offices and participate in several prevention-themed activities. The activities offered a glimpse into the fun, engaging methods prevention specialists use to teach youth the skills to avoid substances and cope with stress.

The event was catered by Isaac Gonzalez Perez, who spoke briefly at the event about how his participation in a prevention program run by COCA helped change his life when he was a teen.