Warren Coalition Works to Build Resilience and Prevent Substance Abuse

Warren Coalition Promotes Youth Programs and “Unplugged” Event at Community Forum

Residents attending the South River District community forum at Skyline High School on March 15 also had the opportunity to learn more about the Warren Coalition’s work supporting youth and families throughout the county.

Celeste Brooks, deputy director of the Warren Coalition, speaks with residents about the organization’s youth programs and prevention efforts during the South River District community forum at Skyline High School on March 15.

Celeste Brooks, deputy director of the Warren Coalition, attended the event to share information about the organization’s programs and its recent Warren County Unplugged initiative.

Brooks said the Coalition’s recent Youth Unplugged Party drew a strong turnout, with about 110 children and teenagers participating in activities designed to encourage kids to spend time together without phones or social media.

Students from elementary, middle, and high schools attended the event and participated in games and activities organized with the help of Warren County Parks and Recreation and other community partners. One popular activity was “Volley Bound,” a game that uses oversized balls and a volleyball-style tournament format.

A team in the Youth Unplugged Party’s “volley bound” tournament celebrates a point scored.

The Youth Unplugged Party was part of Warren County Unplugged, a community-wide effort encouraging residents to step away from phones and social media for a full day. The event coincides each year with the Global Day of Unplugging, which took place this year, March 6–7.

The initiative is designed to raise awareness about the potential mental health impacts of excessive social media use, particularly among young people.

Brooks said the Coalition encourages people of all ages to sign up and participate by committing to spend time away from their phones or social media during the event. Participants are entered into a prize drawing as part of the effort.

Participation has grown steadily each year. In the program’s first year, 55 people signed up. The following year, that number rose to 108, and this year, 132 people registered to take part.

Organizers also coordinated a wide range of activities throughout the community to help residents find phone-free ways to spend time together.

Wearing “granny” pants, Dave Goss of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office tries to catch the balls the students are tossing at him.

More than 350 people attended events on Friday evening alone, which included the Youth Unplugged Party, karaoke at Santmyers Student Union hosted by Reaching Out Now, a Scottish Cèilidh at Samuels Public Library, and a Hyper Party at the Royal Family Bowling Center.

The following day, local businesses and organizations offered additional activities and incentives to encourage people to stay off their phones. Kid-friendly stores downtown hosted games and discounts, while Habitat for Humanity organized backyard games at the gazebo. Ruby Yoga offered discounted classes, and On Cue Sports Bar hosted a casino-style fundraiser.

Arline Link of Explore Art & Clay stamped a “bingo” card that listed Warren County Unplugged events and participating stores. Individuals who visited six or more locations were entered into a prize drawing.

Altogether, 37 businesses and organizations participated by offering phone-free experiences during the event. An additional 15 restaurants helped spread awareness by placing informational displays on their tables about the risks of excessive social media use.

Brooks said the goal is not necessarily to eliminate technology but to help people become more aware of how much time they spend online and how it can affect mental health.

Research has shown that smartphone use among teenagers has increased significantly over the past decade, while anxiety, depression, and loneliness among young people have also risen. Studies have also found that teens who frequently use social media may be more likely to experiment with substances such as alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana.

Through programs like Warren County Unplugged, the Coalition hopes to encourage healthier habits and stronger community connections.

Beyond the unplugged event, the Warren Coalition offers a wide range of programs focused on prevention, resilience, and family support.

The nonprofit organization works closely with local schools to provide drug prevention education and hosts community activities throughout the year, including Red Ribbon Week events and programs that promote healthy decision-making.

The Coalition also administers Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library locally, providing free books each month to children from birth to age five to encourage early literacy.

Other programs include Celebrate Kids Day, resilience-building activities for elementary students, and support programs for middle school students who have experienced trauma. The organization also hosts family events such as resilience bingo and family dinner nights.

Established in 1994, the Warren Coalition began as an outreach effort through Warren Memorial Hospital to address gaps in health care and substance abuse awareness in the community. The organization later became an independent nonprofit in 2001.

Today, the Coalition works with more than a dozen partner agencies to promote its mission of helping make Warren County a safe, healthy, and drug-free community.

Brooks said collaboration with other organizations is a key part of the Coalition’s work, allowing local nonprofits and agencies to identify community needs and work together to address them.

Events like the South River community forum provide residents with an opportunity to learn about these services and connect with organizations that support families throughout the county.