It’s National Prevention Week!

National Prevention Week (NPW) is a national public education platform bringing together communities and organizations to raise awareness about the importance of substance use prevention and positive mental health.

Did you know that Garrett County has multiple teams working to implement prevention strategies in our local communities? From preventing substance misuse and chronic diseases to providing resources for mental health, Garrett County is implementing multiple efforts to ensure that our community is a healthy place to live, work, and play!

Here are just a few of the many local resources in Garrett County (including upcoming events!):

Free State Park Passes, CARC Passes, Gym Memberships, Local Trail and Park Guides, + More (Chronic Disease Prevention Programming Sponsored by CareFirst): https://gcinmotion.garrettcountyapps.com/ (Program Overview Available at: https://gogarrettcounty.com/a-new-program-launches-to-keep-garrett-county-moving/)

Funding Opportunity for Community Groups, Local Businesses, and Organizations for Chronic Disease Prevention Activities and Accessibility Improvement Projects: https://gogarrettcounty.com/funding-opportunity-please-apply/

Upcoming Community Events (Including FREE Activities at Local State Parks!): https://gcinmotion.garrettcountyapps.com/community-calendar/

Prediabetes Risk Test: https://gogarrettcounty.com/prediabetes-risk-test/ + Local Prediabetes Resources & Classes (With Incentives!): https://gogarrettcounty.com/prediabetes-resources-in-garrett-county/

Garrett County Behavioral Health Provider Guide (Provided by the Garrett County Behavioral Health Authority): https://mygarrettcounty.com/provider-guide/

May is Mental Health Month Campaign: https://gogarrettcounty.com/may-is-mental-health-month-mentalhealthmay2022/

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week: https://gogarrettcounty.com/childrens-mental-health-awareness-week-may-3-2022/

Trauma-Informed Care Town Hall being Held at NMS May 17th: https://garretthealth.org/trauma-informed-care-town-hall-being-held-at-nms-may-17th/

Upcoming Event! – Tony Hoffman “From Prison to the Olympics” at Garrett College + New Video!: https://garretthealth.org/reminder-upcoming-event-tony-hoffman-from-prison-to-the-olympics-at-garrett-college-new-video/

Narcan Pickup Sites Located Around Garrett County: https://garretthealth.org/narcan-pickup-sites-located-around-garrett-county/

Community Planning Groups Learn About Prevention Topics (Recent Community Event): https://garretthealth.org/community-planning-groups-learn-about-prevention-topics/

Learn More About Garrett County’s Health Education & Outreach Unit (Including Community Planning Groups, Substance Misuse Prevention Programs, Obesity Prevention, Tobacco Cessation Classes, and More!): https://garretthealth.org/health-education-outreach/

Purpose of National Prevention Week

The three primary goals of National Prevention Week are to:

• Involve communities in raising awareness of substance use and mental health issues and in implementing prevention strategies, and showcasing effectiveness of evidence-based prevention programs;
• Foster partnerships and collaborations with federal agencies and national organizations dedicated to improving public health; and
• Promote and disseminate quality substance use prevention and mental health promotion resources and publications.

2022 National Prevention Week Topics

Monday, May 9: Strengthening Community Resilience: Substance Misuse and Overdose Prevention

Tuesday, May 10: Preventing Substance Use and Promoting Mental Health in Youth

Wednesday, May 11: Preventing Suicide: Everyone Plays a Role

Thursday, May 12: The Talent Pipeline: Enhancing the Prevention Workforce

Friday, May 13: Prevention is Everywhere: Highlighting Efforts Across Settings and Communities

Saturday, May 14: Celebrating Prevention Heroes