Pubdate: Fri, 29 Sep 2006
Source: Midland Daily News (MI)
Copyright: 2006 Midland Daily News
Contact:  http://www.ourmidland.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4293
Author: Kelly Nankervis

CIRCLE OF HEALTH AWARDED $500,000

Teaching a community about drug abuse takes so much more than just 
reaching out to one person one time.

Gaye Terwillegar and others involved with the Circle of Health 
Partnership realize that, and that's part of the reason the 
collaboration has received $500,000 in federal money to keep the ball rolling.

It's A Big Win.

"First of all, thank God we got this grant," Terwillegar, the 
partnership's executive director, said Wednesday night at a reception 
announcing the grant. It means the partnership has $100,000 for each 
of the next five years, which will pay for implementation plans. She 
still will write mini grants to pay for other projects, she said.

The money is from a Drug Free Communities Support Grant from the 
federal Health and Human Services and the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services administrations.

Part of the reason the partnership was awarded the money is its goal 
of raising awareness with youths and parents by reaching them in many 
different forums, lots of times, staying positive and collaborating 
with other agencies and organizations to get the work accomplished.

"We can't look at just our youth, we've got to look at our parents," 
said Charlie Russian, chair of the partnership's board, adding that 
effort includes help from all sorts of community groups, schools and 
Northwood University.

"Coalitions are a real cheap way to get a lot of work done," 
Terwillegar said, adding the partnership has three employees, in 
addition to a board and other committees.

Terwillegar illustrated her point by listing the many programs the 
partnership has a hand in, including community presentations, school 
programs, holding workshops and inservice events, the Taste of 
Diversity fundraiser, Fences, community training events, a town hall 
meeting on minors in possession of alcohol, and a new youth group 
called START, which stands for Students Tackling Alcohol and 
Resisting Temptations.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine