Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2005

CONTACT: Jana Scoville (404) 508-7875

Graduation Held for Community Members Collaborating to Tackle Substance Abuse Issues

DECATUR, Georgia - Substance abuse has a damaging effect on the community. As the problem grows, there is a greater need for grassroots community efforts in the area of substance abuse prevention. The Georgia Department of Human Resources' Metro Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Addictive Diseases (MHDDAD) Regional Office has funded organizations in creating community collaborations. Prevention Specialist Doris T. Thomas of the Regional Office has led the way in this effort by teaming up organizations and providing support.

As an initial step to energize the community to action, the DeKalb Community Service Board's DeKalb Court Services, Center for Pan Asian Community Services and Decatur City Schools Prevention Initiative invited DeKalb citizens to three workshops in March 2005 titled "The DeKalb Community Mobilizing for Action Training." The purpose was to educate youth and adults on how to go into their community and conduct needs assessments and research resources available. They learned how to collect data, interview people and hold focus groups. Approximately 50 individuals participated in the classes. A Community Graduation will be held for the collaboration participants on May 24 at 6 p.m. in the Bohan Auditorium of the EL Richardson Health Center, 445 Winn Way in Decatur. Due to limited seating, advanced registration is needed. For reservations, contact Winnifred Benbow at 404-508-6445.

Substance Abuse Counselor Rutha Turner of DeKalb Court Services says, "Our ultimate goal is to spark an interest in the community to take a serious look at the substance abuse issues that are destroying the lives of our citizens."

DeKalb Court Services is a part of the DeKalb CSB, a public corporation and an instrumentality of the State of Georgia to provide mental health, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases services. Services offered through DeKalb Court Services include substance abuse education and intervention, risk reduction classes for our DUI School and the county's DUI Drug Court, multiple offender evaluations, programs for at risk youth and their families, an employee assistance program and domestic violence/anger management classes. To access services offered by the DeKalb CSB, please call the 24 hour Central Access line at 404-892-4646 for assessments, appointment scheduling, referrals and crisis calls.

###