Embedded Files
Our Mission Statement
Healthy Delaware County strives to promote the health and well-being of the community by addressing issues related to substance use, brain health, and other co-occurring issues with a focus on healthy choices, resources, and collaborative efforts to improve the quality of life in Delaware County.
Our Vision Statement
Establish an environment where Delaware County can thrive in a supportive and healthy community by promoting wellness, prevention, and education.
Our Purpose
A grassroots coalition is an alliance or partnership between different organizations that represent a broad range of interests and bring different assets, missions, perspectives, constituencies, relationships, and strategies to work collaboratively toward a common goal.
Healthy Delaware County strives to establish an environment that works toward promoting overall health and creating community-level change around substance use and other related concerns. We facilitate a prevention system that consists of sectors throughout the community that provide individuals and families the resources and education they need to start making lifestyle changes that move towards optimal health and well-being.
Our Goals
● Increase coalition engagement and community collaboration and partnerships
● Increase coalition member’s knowledge of prevention and co-occurring issues along with their roles in operating an effective coalition
● Gain the tools and skill sets necessary to sustain the coalition beyond grant funding
● Provide Delaware County youth, families, and community members with current substance use, brain health and other co-occurring issue trends, upcoming events, trainings and coalition successes
● Implement strategies that address concerns related to substance use, brain health and other co-occurring issues
Join us at our meetings on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 11:30 am
SonShine Center 113 Guetzko Ct. Manchester IA or via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81463251767
PO Box 493, 601 Grant St., Manchester, IA 52057
healthydelco@gmail.com
How it all began….
The Delaware County Drug Abuse Coalition was established in 2000 after years of key stakeholders coming together to address drug use in the county and the negative impact it was having on children and families.
Pre-coalition History: In the late 1990s, Juvenile Court, services providers, and school staff witnessed the rising methamphetamine use in the county and its negative effects. Together, these stakeholders secured prevention funding including Drug-Free Schools, Substance Abuse Prevention Comprehensive and Tobacco Prevention and Controls Grants. These funds brought juvenile court liaisons, substance abuse counselors, and at-risk programming into the schools. With the capacity and resources that were established, it was determined to keep substance abuse prevention efforts moving forward in the county and the official creation of a grassroots coalition was formed.
Delaware County Drug Abuse Coalition (DDAC): Seeing the increase of children removed from their homes and juvenile delinquent numbers, DDAC began to assess how to decrease substance abuse and address contributing factors that challenged families. DDAC also began to build capacity by engaging different sectors and utilizing its expertise. Town hall meetings and small group presentations included information on the negative impacts on children exposed to methamphetamine, and information sessions on alcohol and other substance use issues.
DDAC continued to receive funding through the Comprehensive Substance Abuse Prevention Grant through 2010 when due to alcohol consumption statistics; DDAC was awarded the Strategic Prevention Framework-State Incentive Grant for underage and adult binge drinking. DDAC went on to be awarded the Iowa Partnerships for Success Grant in 2015 to address underage and youth binge drinking and because of its strides in reaching outcomes. In 2016, DDAC was awarded the Drug-Free Communities Grant.
The focus on environmental strategies started in 2010. Through the implementation of these strategies, the coalition celebrated many accomplishments, including these few:
● Passed county-wide social host ordinance and advocated at the state level for social host law. This work helped to establish a strong working relationship between the coalition, the County Attorney and the County Board of Supervisors.
● Advocated for local policy change on restricting alcohol use in public places which resulted in passing two park policy changes in the county. This policy work provided the opportunity for open conversations between the coalition and city councils on changing social norms at the local level.
● Advocating for alcohol management at community events with the Manchester Chamber, Edgewood Rodeo, and the Delaware County Fair modifying their policies for stricter alcohol components.
● Offered alcohol diversion classes with 0% of students completing the course, reoffending in the last year.
● Partnering with the state-wide coalition to pass mandatory responsible beverage server training for all liquor license holders who fail an alcohol compliance check.
● Advocating for substance-free tobacco/nicotine workplaces and tobacco/nicotine-free parks and trails.
Rebranding and Becoming Healthy Delaware County
In 2021, coalition members decided that it was time to expand the mission and work towards reaching more people by including concerns that often accompany substance use like brain health and other co-occurring issues.
Our Why?
Because:
● We care about youth and the choices they are making
● We care about the neighborhoods we are living in
● We care about the perception people have of our community
● We care about youth and families making healthy and safe choices
● We care about workplaces and employability
● We care about our schools and how they can be a resource for youth and families
● We care about the environment in which children are being raised
● We care about parents and if they know that there are resources available to them
● We care about how our laws are enforced and if citizens understand them
Ways you can support the Coalition…
● Become a member of the coalition!
● Visit our website www.healthydelco.com and join our email distribution list for the latest trends and happenings
● Read our quarterly newsletter: The Chatter
● Join our Facebook page, Healthy Delaware County, and share our updates and information
● Forward coalition emails to friends, colleagues, etc. & ask them to join our email distribution list
● Talk to people you encounter in Delaware County about Healthy Delaware County
● Participate in coalition surveys and evaluation efforts and encourages others to do so
● Write letters to the editor regarding the importance of substance use prevention efforts and its co-occurring issues
● Talk to elected officials & share thoughts on substance use prevention efforts and needs
● Volunteer for events and activities on behalf of Healthy Delaware County
● Actively recruit new members
● Volunteer to hang posters in the community and your workplace
● Sign up to be on subcommittees when needed
● Share your stories, trials and triumphs if you are comfortable doing so
● Attend events to increase awareness of substance abuse and issues today’s youth face
● While at other meetings and events promote Healthy Delaware County
● Bring a friend, coworker or family to the next Healthy Delaware County meeting
● Share funding opportunities with coalition chair, co-chair and coordinator
● Offer meeting space if you have it for meetings and/or events
● Offer to make a meal or donate snacks for events and activities
● Volunteer to stuff envelopes/packets, etc.
Healthy Delaware County Fiscal Agent and Substance Use Prevention Grants currently serving Delaware County
Helping Services for Youth & Families serves as the fiscal agent for the following Healthy Delaware County substance use prevention grants.
Helping Services for Youth & Families serves an 8-county area with focuses on Substance Use Prevention, Domestic Violence Advocacy, Family Education and Support, and Youth Mentoring.
Drug-Free Communities Grant through the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in partnership with the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Sam Howell, Prevention Specialist (9/01/24).
● Focuses on the prevention of alcohol, marijuana, and methamphetamine use
Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Grant through the Iowa Department of Public Health – Mentoring Grant. Gabby Schuman is the Mentoring Coordinator gschuman@helpingservices.com or 563-379-3454
● Focuses on matching youth with positive adult role models through community-based mentoring, school-based mentoring, and after-school mentoring programs in all 3 school districts in Delaware County.
Tobacco Prevention through the Iowa Department of Public Health. Ashley Havenstrite is the Grant Coordinator ahavenstrite@helpingservices.org or 563-880-5388
● Focuses on the prevention of tobacco/nicotine use
Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC) serves as the fiscal agent for the following Healthy Delaware County substance use prevention grants.
Contact Christine Mensinger, Prevention Supervisor
Integrated Provider Network Grant through the Iowa Health and Human Services
● Focuses on adult alcohol use, youth marijuana use, and problem gambling prevention
State Opioid Response Grant through the Iowa Health and Human Services
● Focuses on the education of opioids, psychostimulants, reducing stigma, and harm reduction strategies.
Prevention and Mental Health Acronyms
ATOD Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
SPF Strategic Prevention Framework
AC4C Alliance of Coalitions for Change
SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
CADCA Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
IPN Integrated Provider Network
DFC Drug-Free Communities Grant
MOU Memoranda of Understanding
IHHS Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
DEA Drug Enforcement Agency
PMP Prescription Monitoring Program
SBIRT Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment
IYS Iowa Youth Survey
MV TEL Maquoketa Valley Teens Eliminating Lies
BDF Building Directions for Families
DHS Department of Human Services
JCS Juvenile Court Services
DCSPC Delaware County Suicide Prevention Coalition
SUD Substance Use Disorder
MH Mental Health
BHS Behavioral Health Services
BOS Board of Supervisors
EBP Evidence Based Practices
NAMI National Alliance on Mental Illness
ASAC Area Substance Abuse Council
Co-Occurring Disorders or Dual Diagnosis
Key Leaders currently serving Healthy Delaware County
A goal of a prevention coalition is to have a well-rounded group of individuals and organizations at the table. Best practice is to have the 12 sectors in a community that often serve as leaders. The following list is a current representation.
12 Sectors plus other important representatives
Youth
MV TEL Youth, Joellen Beitz
Parent
Jennifer Hahn
Business
Laura Holtz, Manchester Chamber Director
Faith
Jen Zaring
School
Elise Bonert and Troy Osterhaus, Maquoketa Valley Admin.
Jennifer Lange – Ed-Co School
Law Enforcement
Sheriff Travis Hemeseth, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Jeff Zalaznik, Sheriff’s Office
Chief Davis, Manchester PD
Healthcare
Krystle DeShaw, Public Health
Melissa Lindsey, RMC ED
Youth-Serving Organizations
Gabby Schuman, Youth Mentoring
Civic
Stefanie Dingbaum, Suicide Prevention Coalition
Media
Sarah Meyer, KMCH
Manchester Press, Edgewood Reminder, Delaware County Leader
Local Government
Pete Buschmann
Board of Supervisors
Agency focused on Substance Abuse Prevention and/or Treatment
Jen Stolka, Ashley Havenstrite Helping Services
Christine Mensinger, ASAC
Social Services Agencies
Vicky Gassman, Cristee Miner, VNA
Deb Hamblin, HACAP
General Community Member
vacant
Behavioral and/or Mental Health Services
Jennifer Hahn, Families, Inc.
Juvenile Court Services
David Brinkmoeller
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