Fostering health in local communities
Published Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 10 a.m.
- Submitted photo From left: Alandra Bell-Reedus, Farana McDaniel, Charlotte Bryant, Maggie Roberts, Kimberly Dawson.
Families United Training Center recently hosted a Bridging the Gap event for community healing.
This event was organized in collaboration with the Central Mississippi Regional National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency and Regional Compliance Coordinator Alundra Bell Reedus.
“We strongly believe that the overall health of Mississippians plays a critical role in contributing to Mississippi’s workforce, which in turn fosters economic development.” FUTC said Founder and Director Farana McDaniel. “This ongoing effort aims to provide education, training and support services to individuals and families affected by substance abuse. We want to help them understand the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. We want to help them understand this, while also educating them about the dangers of substance abuse.”
Dr. Daniel Edney, state health officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health, also attended the event to share the importance of prevention in living a healthy mind and body. Edney also encouraged participants to take advantage of free blood pressure testing at their local health department.
Kathy House, Opioid Response Network Regional Coordinator, shared information about ORN’s free introduction to evidence-based training. StandUp MS Outreach Her Coordinator Charlotte Bryant provided Narcan training, and a free overdose response kit containing Narcan was provided by the Mississippi State Public Health Laboratory.
Families in attendance shared their experiences of how substance abuse has affected their loved ones. Attendee Mary Richardson expressed regret that she was unaware of the information available to her while trying to save her son from drug abuse. He died of addiction.
“The National Institutes of Health emphasizes that preventing substance abuse and promoting overall well-being is a complex issue,” McDaniel said. “But by providing individuals with the tools they need to manage life stress and identify their abilities, we can help them excel academically and professionally, while also helping their communities. We believe we can make a positive contribution to society. Ultimately, this can promote well-being and prevent drug abuse.”
For more information, visit www.opioidresponsenetwork.org and www.familiesunitedtraining.org/lunchandlearnregistration.
