Understanding How Positive Community Factors Can Prevent Substance Abuse in Youth

The Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth (CCC&Y) strives to prevent substance abuse and other negative outcomes in adulthood by understanding the effects of childhood traumatic experience and mobilizing community action. Research shows that Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, contribute to the likelihood of addiction. Sadly, however, Arizona ranks higher than the national average for children who have experienced ACEs. These can include childhood traumas such as abuse and neglect. In fact, according to the Arizona ACE Consortium, “It is estimated that nearly 70,000 children in Arizona have more than five ACEs.”

Message to all of us

What an experience! Each of us is creating our new normal. Extra time at home brings up different emotions for all of us. Maybe some joy in the novelty. Maybe some stress in having kids home more often without a routine. Maybe mixed feelings about extra family time. Maybe a sadness for missing events. Maybe angry about  being temporarily out of work. Maybe overwhelmed because you are a health care or emergency service provider. Or maybe hopeful for humanity as you witness folks reaching out to each other and new ways. Most likely a mix of throughout a day! Whatever you are feelings it’s ok!

Local Education Spotlight: FUSD, other districts, launch ‘Grab & Go’ Food Service for students. See more local education news here

The Flagstaff Unified School District (began a grab and go breakfast and lunch food service on March 23) during the unanticipated school closures due to COVID-19 outbreak. All children receiving a meal need to be physically present at the time the meal is provided.

Also see:

• Arizona Daily Sun — Fredonia-Moccasin USD offering lunches during school closure
• Arizona Daily Sun — Arizona schools closed through April 10, FUSD free meal service starting Monday
• Page Unified School District — Meals during School Closures
• Page Unified School District — PUSD has added LeChee chapter house as a meal pick-up site
• Tuba City Unified School District — 2020 Grab & Go Meal Service
• Williams-Grand Canyon News — Grand Canyon School provides grab and go meals for students
• Williams Unified School District — WUSD will be distributing a breakfast/lunch meal Monday through Thursday starting Monday, March 23rd

Arizona Education Legislative Spotlight: House, Senate approve streamlined budget, adjourn until April 13. See more education legislative news here

Updated March 23: The Arizona House and Senate approved the streamlined budget and other key legislation, then adjourned until Monday, April 13, 2020 or until the time legislative leadership have determined they should reassemble.

Connections Spotlight: Self-healing, -helping communities assisting students, families overcome coronavirus challenges

During times of crisis, people have an amazing ability to adapt, get over the shock and get to work to mitigate or solve the problem.

Such is the case with our current challenge, the coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency.

Stay-at-home orders, school closures and other issues have rapidly confronted everyone, from political leaders to emergency responders, parents and students.

And true to our nature, individuals and organizations are rapidly coming up with a variety of creative solutions to tackle such issues as feeding students who are unable to return to the classroom, and at-home and distance-learning options to continue the education of our youth.

Within this e-newsletter, our readers will find a variety of links to stories and resources to help us face the challenge of many of these issues and meet the mind, body and spirit needs of our community.