Woman’s Voice: The Lenawee Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition is a diverse group of dedicated community members united around the goal of reducing substance use in Lenawee County. LSAPC members work collaboratively to engage and educate the community in order to promote a healthy Lenawee.
Kathy Williams: This is Kathy Williams. And with me on tonight’s program is Kellie Niese. We’re going to be talking about an upcoming event called the Day of HOPE that’s happening the end of August. And Kellie is the HRSA Recovery Coordinator, and so she’s been in charge of this huge event. And Kellie, I know it started out small, but it’s getting bigger…
Kellie Niese: It did. This all generated from work that I’m doing to get Narcan out and the community educated and get Narcan in their hands, where I thought I was going to set up a little table and hand it out downtown. And then I’m just overwhelmed with how many community partners wanted to be a part of this event. So, it’s turned into the Day of HOPE which stands for…
Kathy Williams: Health Ownership, Prevention, & Education.
Kellie Niese: Yes.
Kathy Williams: And so, you’re going to have all kinds of different booths there, different local organizations that are all promoting owning your own health and helping with prevention and education as far as drug and alcohol abuse.
Kellie Niese: That’s right, it’s addressing substance use disorder as well as behavioral health issues. And it really is a collaborative in our community where we’re working to promote overall individual wellness and tools for people and resources for people to help them be well. So things like Narcan, obviously that’s what started it all…
Kathy Williams: Right.
Kellie Niese: The Mobile Recovery Unit, which is literally what it sounds like – a mobile clinic to help people with health care needs as well as addiction needs. And they are going to be there for a meet and greet so you can kind of take a tour of the bus and meet them. WLEN is going to be there at the event so it should be fun. And we’re hoping to get other community partners like massage therapy, yoga instruction, anything that you can think of that promotes overall Wellness.
Kathy Williams: I think that’s great that a lot of the local businesses are also wanting to come on board, aside from the nonprofits. I mean, the nonprofits, we tend to help each other, we try to make sure that there’s not duplication of services, and things like that, but I think it’s going to be exciting to see the different local businesses that are going to participate that are promoting healthy lifestyles: healthy eating, healthy products that they sell, you know, all those kind of things.
Kellie Niese: Right, right. Because overall health is complicated and it takes a lot of factors to maintain your health. So, we want to kind of put that all on display for folks that may not know all of these opportunities and places are around in our community.
Kathy Williams: Yep.
Kellie Niese: So, for example, Pathways will be there, peer recovery coaches will be there – you can meet them, learn what they’re all about. And then we’ll have things like food trucks for people to eat and enjoy everyone’s company. So, I’m really excited about this coming up because I think, I feel like substance use is something that’s kind of put in the corners of the community sometimes. So, we’re putting it out there, shining light on it, and showing that there’s hope and that there is a pathway to wellness.
Kathy Williams: I think they’re going to find mind, body, spirit.
Kellie Niese: Yes.
Kathy Williams: We’re going to encompass the whole person in all the different levels of addiction that you might be in, and even for people that aren’t in an addiction position, but just need that little of bit extra compassion for whatever their journey is.
Kellie Niese: Right. The goal is to connect all the dots for people, right? And so even there, you know, CMH will be there with the e-Race: you can sign up for the e-Race the Stigma, which I think this event really does address stigma.
Kathy Williams: Right.
Kellie Niese: And again, lets people know that there’s hope out there which is the message we really want to put in our title and like extend to everyone that visits us.
Kathy Williams: That’s why it’s called a Day of HOPE.
Kellie Niese: That’s right!
Kathy Williams: So, the event itself then is happening August 31st, and Kellie, it will be going on from what, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. it looks like?
Kellie Niese: Right. 2 to 6.
Kathy Williams: How will they be able to find out additional information?
Kellie Niese: I just want to add that August 31st is National Overdose Awareness Day. So that’s really the, what started this whole event, is we wanted to acknowledge that. For people that are interested in coming to the event, you can contact customer service at CMH at 263-8905.
Kathy Williams: And you said that about the Overdose Day and that’s why the Narcan was so important…
Kellie Niese: Right.
Kathy Williams: That started the whole thing.
Kellie Niese: That started the whole thing.
Kathy Williams: Because that is an essential part sometimes for stopping deaths.
Kellie Niese: It’s absolutely life-saving. Life-saving. It can have an immediate impact and save someone’s life and give them hope of rehab and recovery.
Kathy Williams: Also, they can find updates at DrugPreventionLenawee.com on the LSAPC site. So, Kellie, appreciate your time, appreciate all the work you’re putting into the Day of Hope. And again, it’s August 31st.
Kellie Niese: 2 to 6.
Kathy Williams: Thanks again.
Kellie Niese: Thank you.
Woman’s Voice: Thank you for listening. This information has been provided by the Lenawee Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. Supported by funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration. New messages air on the first and third Monday of each month at 6:15 p.m. You can listen to this program as a podcast under the audio tab on WLEN.com and listen and gather more information at DrugPreventionLenawee.com.
