Coalition holds steering committee meeting

Newton —The Steering Committee of the Sussex County Coalition for Healthy and Safe Families met last Friday, Jan. 12, to participate in the 3rd annual Strategic Prevention Framework training. The aim of training is for committee members to learn more about the planning process used to formulate objectives and activities. Veteran participants, Ralph D’Aries and Dottie Fausak, were lauded for best attendance at meetings and Pat Kibildis was recognized for her collaborative work with municipal alliances in the county. Members worked in groups to piece together an outline of the five key principles attached to developing and maintaining a successful coalition: assessment, capacity, planning, implementation and evaluation. An update was presented by coalition staff, highlighting achievements of the past year, some of which included the annual anti-drug contest, Red Ribbon Day, the anti-bullying summit, alcohol awareness month public service announcement, DEFY youth group activities and Town Hall meetings addressing childhood drinking. Steering Committee Chairperson Barry Worman acknowledged a $500 donation from the School Superintendent’s Roundtable Association. The achievement of the Sussex County Coalition has resulted in an opportunity for members to mentor a recently established group from another county. Members of the burgeoning Burlington County Anti-Drug Coalition will be trained, with the hope they will replicate the successful anti-drug efforts of the Sussex County group. The next meeting of the Steering Committee for the Sussex County Coalition for Healthy and Safe Families, a program of the Center for Prevention and Counseling will be held Friday, Feb. 9 at 9 a.m. For more information, contact the Center for Prevention and Counseling at 973-383-4787 or visit www.centerforprevention.org.