Mercer Council News
Keep up to date with our news and activities
At the beginning of February, Regional Coalition Coordinator, Malissa Arnold and I were given the opportunity to attend the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (CADCA) Annual Leadership Forum. There, we were introduced to a rolling attendance of youth and community leaders from all across the United States and its territories. With people who ...
In the field of Prevention, we are especially concerned about the developing adolescent brain. We want to protect it as much as possible while also encouraging our students to seek positive experiences that create lasting positive infrastructural change. The introduction and passing of the Cannabis legislation did complicate the discourse on how we...
As you all are well aware, December 31st is the day Barbara Sprechman will be retiring from Mercer Council. Of the 29 years Barbara has worked in Prevention, she has been with the Mercer Council for the past 11 years. During this time, she has greatly enjoyed working alongside her colleagues and community members excelling as Mercer County Pr...
Giving Tuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to come together to thank, help, give, show kindness, and share what they have with those in need. Make a contribution today so together we can make a healthy, safe, and responsible community become a reality! Donate Mercer Council is a private, non-profit agency dedicated to th...
On February 22, 2021, Governor Phil Murphy signed three bills into law that addressed the legalization of cannabis (the legal word for marijuana). With this, the legalization of cannabis pushed forward a discourse for all New Jersey citizens to take part in. With questions and concerns so large about the impact on youth, the justice system, and the...
I've had a long and fulfilling career in prevention over the past 29 years. Starting out as a part time prevention educator teaching a primary prevention program known as BABES for young children using puppets and storytelling when my own children were very young. Prevention Science was still a fairly "young" fi...
The Mercer Council and Prevention Coalition of Mercer County were proud to be represented at 5 different National Night Out (NNO) locations throughout Mercer County on August 3rd. National Night Out is an important event that seeks to foster and enhance relationships between neighborhoods/communities and various law enforcement agencies. Sta...
On Monday, July 19th, Barbara Sprechman hand delivered the 2021 Excellence in Prevention Award to Senator Greenstein at her office in Cranbury. After holding the virtual Excellence in Prevention Awards event in June, it was wonderful to have a face-to-face encounter! "Given the pandemic's toll on mental health, making sure that the ...
Mercer Council and the Prevention Coalition of Mercer County were pleased to sponsor 5 county law enforcement officers to attend Sgt. Scott Kivet's Street Cop Training Class: Drug Identification, Paraphernalia and the Motor Vehicle Stop on Monday, May 24th. This course gives police officers the skills they need to formulate effective an...
Hello Community Members! While New Jersey has become one of the pioneers in underage marijuana usage and law enforcement reform, the new marijuana legislation has led to frustration and confusion with parents, business owners, and law enforcement alike. While there have been news outlets and educational resources mitigating some of that confusion, the Prevention Coalition of Mercer County an...
In less than five minutes, you can make a big difference in the health and well-being of your community. Every year, the Prevention Coaliiton of Mercer County distributes this survey in order to help us get a snapshot of our community's progress towards healthy, safe and drug-free environments. It also assists us in making adjustments to our current and future strategic planning...
Cadca Mid-Year Training Institute Members of the Mercer Council had the honor and privilege of attending the 2020 CADCA’s Virtual Mid-Year Training Institute. Barbara Sprechman, Amy Argiriou, Vanessa DeRosa, and Malissa Arnold spent the week of July 26-30th in intensive, informative, and enlightening virtual workshops. Attendees had over 80 training sessions to choose from. Topics ranged fro...
On July 23rd, the Prevention Coalition of Mercer County, Mercer Council and WBCB 1490AM Radio collaborated together to broadcast an hour-long forum on the impact of COVID 19 on the student athletes' social and emotional well-being. Panelists included Jon Adams, Athletic Director of Nottingham High School in Hamilton Township, Bill Bruno from NJSIAA and Dr. Mike Gross, a clinical and s...
For the last day of Pride month at 2 PM, we are hosting a Netflix watch party featuring the documentary The Life and Death of Marsha P. Johnson. Marsha P. Johnson was a Black trans woman that was an icon of the LGBTQ+ movement and was considered a heroine of the Stonewall Riots. Many are unaware that the LGBTQ+ community has an alarmingly high rate of substance use challenges. Man...
Recently, Merrill Reese of WBCB Radio, the "Voice of the Philadelphia Eagles" recorded two PSAs for the Prevention Coalition to help us spread awareness to parents of student athletes to keep them safe from prescription opioid misuse. Student athletes are considered a high-risk population for opioid use and misuse because of their greater risk of injury and also becuase of a greater o...
Prevention happens all year round, but next week has traditionally been the official week to celebrate and promote prevention! It’s up to all of us to take part in preventing substance abuse in our communities. Check out some of the top federal publications, campaigns, and resources related to each of the NPW daily themes below, and visit the NPW Prevention Resources page for more resources from t...
On April 8th, seventeen PCMC Coalition members met "virtually" through Zoom to particpate in our monthly meeting. The COVID 19 quarantine does not prevent this amazing group from getting together and continuing our Coalition work! After a discussion about how we are all coping through this unprecedented time, members discussed ways to continue working on important...
The landscape is evolving rapidly regarding the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with institutions restricting large gatherings, federal and state agencies restricting travel and the Governor declaring a state of emergency in New Jersey. Considering these actions, the planning committee determined it is best to postpone the April 2nd DRUGS: Get the Facts 2020 Summit for a few months...
Mercer Council and the Prevention Coalition of Mercer County are partnering with Rider University, the County Prosecutor's Office and the American Academy of Pediatrics to discuss local and national drug trends on April 2nd at a countywide forum. The event will be held from 6 - 8pm at the Barty Leudeke Center - Cavalla Room on Rider University's campus in Lawrence Township. The ...
