Northwestern Prevention Collaborative’s Faith Based Web Series: Highlighting the intersection of trauma and substance misuse

In the third installment of their virtual Faith Based Series, the Northwestern Prevention Collaborative will be highlighting the intersection of trauma and substance misuse. The training will be led by Robin Blumenthal, an ACEs, Trauma, and Brain Development educator within the faith community, and a Children’s and Family Pastor of 28 years. Topics covered will include the general relationship between trauma and substance misuse, youth ministry, and the impact of trauma on interactions within faith communities.

The August meeting will follow two successful webinars held in June and July. The first two parts of the series included a discussion on stress and anxiety and a conversation on suicide, both in the context of substance misuse and COVID-19. By offering information on relevant issues and creating space for dialogue, the Collaborative hopes to give faith leaders additional tools to utilize in their service of their communities.  Recordings of the previous sessions can be viewed on the Collaborative’s YouTube channel.

The webinar will take place on Tuesday, August 4^th from 10:00-11:30am. Community members interested in attending can use THIS LINK to register. In keeping with their belief that everyone has a role in addressing the opioid epidemic, the Collaborative is excited to bring together leaders within the faith community for a morning of learning and collaboration.

About Northwestern Prevention Collaborative

The Northwestern Prevention Collaborative covers the Lord Fairfax Planning District, encompassing the City of Winchester and the counties of Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah and Warren. One of their current areas of focus is on opioids, with dual goals of preventing young people from misusing prescription drugs and reducing the number of heroin/prescription drug overdose deaths. The Collaborative is a partnership between Page Alliance for Community Action, Family Youth Initiative, Warren Coalition and the Prevention Department of Northwestern Community Services and is funded, in part, through the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.