Blog #1
Welcome & Introduction
Hello! My name is Abby Hanner, and I am the Certified Prevention Specialist for the Butler County We Can Be Drug Free Coalition. I would like to begin by welcoming you to our coalition website and thank you for taking the time to read our blog. I understand you are most likely here out of concern for your own child, a child in your life, or the community. I want you to know that the members of the We Can Be Drug Free Coalition share the same concerns and have made it our mission to work to prevent the potential harm of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by empowering the youth in our community.
A Little About the Author
I have worked with children and youth for the past 10 years through coaching, teaching, being a child welfare advocate, and most recently through Prevention. I have a master’s degree in Education Administration and have been certified as a Missouri Prevention Specialist by the Missouri Credentialing Board. I also think it is important to note that I am a mother who has a passion to see her child grow up in a healthy community free from the harms of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
About the Coalition
The We Can Be Drug Free Coalition has been in existence for over 20 years under the umbrella of the Butler County Community Resource Council, our local caring communities partnership. This coalition is made up many members of the community who share the passion to help empower youth to remain drug free. Our coalition is made up of school personnel, parents, counselors, businesses, law enforcement, and most importantly youth. You can learn more about the members of the coalition and how to become involved from our website. Our coalition has received funding form the Missouri Department of Mental Health to do this prevention work specifically in Butler County. The Coalition has engaged in numerous activities such as media campaigns, prevention programming in schools, parent workshops, and community education.
Our Hope
It is our hope that this website will become a resource to educate parents, families, and community members on the best practices to prevent youth substance use. The We Can Be Drug Free website is full of community resources, research-based articles on substances and youth substance use, opportunities to get involved, and information on the current events of the coalition. The goal of our blog is specific. We would like to educate people on the basic science of prevention and give parents, caregivers, and community members simple and practical ways to help prevent youth substance use.