Prevention is the best medicine: Shelby Democrats updated on CACY efforts
SHELBY — The executive director of Community Action for Capable Youth spoke to the Shelby Area Democratic Club this past Thursday about their programs to help kids make healthy decisions.
“Never does a young child say ‘I want to grow up to be someone my family can’t trust’ or ‘I want to grow up to not be able to hold a job,'" CACY Executive Director Tracee Anderson told the gathering.
Started initially in 1978 by a group of concerned parents, CACY is now the fourth-longest-running standalone prevention-based agency in Ohio. Their work is all in Richland County and last year reached more than 7,000 young people from pre-K through college. They service all public and most charter and private schools. In some instances, they do make home visits to work with parents and the children together.
Anderson said the curriculum is activity-based and research-driven. CACY’s accredited professionals facilitate in-person lessons on topics including depression and suicide prevention along with drug, alcohol, tobacco/nicotine and gambling prevention. They do both individual and group mentoring to help young people develop positive life skills.
Anderson said CACY also focuses on parenting services such as the “Parents Who Host, Lose the Most” campaign along with “Raising Substance Free Children” classes. Medication safety in homes is emphasized to prevent or identify misuse, and they offer a tobacco cessation program for youth and adults called NOP or Not One Puff.
The third leg of their outreach is in partnerships with community organizations. One of their most popular programs is their Hidden in Plain Sight traveling exhibit for parents and caregivers. It’s a replica of a typical teenage bedroom created to alert and educate parents and concerned adults of the potential dangers of more than 150 products that may indicate drug use and the manufacturing or sales of substances.
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Anderson said kids make their decisions quickly and often they’re in a situation where they don’t know what to say. CACY personnel focus on helping them think ahead and develop strategies before they get into a situation.
"Everyone’s at risk,” she said. “There will be opportunities, and it’s about being ready.”
In other business, the Club congratulated Rich and Pat Carlisle for their Lifetime Achievement Award from the Richland County Democratic Party received at the recent Joseph H. Mudra Legacy Dinner. The club also reluctantly accepted the resignation of Garland Gates as treasurer. He and his wife will be moving to Vermont. JC Elgin was appointed treasurer.
After the meeting, members stuffed invitations to the Club’s annual Truman-Kennedy Breakfast on May 18 where Ohio Supreme Court Justice Melody Stewart will give the keynote address.
The Shelby Area Democratic Club meets the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Sutter-Roush Room at the rear of 23 E. Main St. All Democrats and persons of goodwill are invited.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Shelby Area Democrats updated on CACY, name new treasurer
