Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day. This day has been observed for 23 years, and began as a way to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS and those affected by the disease. World AIDS Day helps fight the stigma for people living with HIV by providing education and steps for prevention. The World Health Organization’s theme for the day, which runs from 2011 through 2015 is “Getting to Zero – zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS related deaths.”
The disease, first discovered in 1981, affects nearly 1.2 million people in the United States. The United States has made tremendous progress against HIV, preventing hundreds of thousands of new infections and helping people live longer, healthier, more productive lives with effective treatments. Testing is the only way to identify the nearly 250,000 Americans currently living with HIV who do not know they're infected – that's 1 in 5 of all Americans with HIV. HIV testing and diagnosis are the first steps toward connecting people to life-extending treatment, as well as helping to prevent the spread of HIV to partners.
Brandywine Counseling & Community Services saves lives. We help people recover from addiction and mental illness, and reduce their HIV risk. Each life saved touches other lives, families, and communities in the Delaware region.
Showing posts with label prevention. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prevention. Show all posts
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
BCCS to Lead Prevention Campaigns to Safeguard Delawareans from Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Statewide Movements Aim to Reduce Consequences, Costs of Harmful Behaviors
Wilmington, Del. — Brandywine Counseling & Community Services (BCCS) has cemented its reputation as Delaware’s leading voice of alcohol and drug prevention, having been awarded two grants totaling $600,000 a year for three years, to create two statewide campaigns designed to prevent alcohol and drug abuse before any sign of a problem occur. The grants were awarded from the Delaware Division of Health & Social Services, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
“For decades, our prevention efforts have focused on giving people all the information and resources they need to recognize the signs of drug and alcohol abuse,” said Dr. Lynn Fahey, CEO of BCCS. “These two new grants will help us expand these efforts and prevent drug and alcohol abuse before the abuse even begins.”
The first of the two campaigns, You. Front and Center, targets alcohol and other drug abuse among adults 18 and over. Delaware law enforcement agencies reported 5,538 adult drug arrests during 2006, and 2,551 alcohol related arrests. In addition, Delaware is above the national average for marijuana use by young adults, with 10.45% of the population 12 and older reporting they have used marijuana in the past year.
You. Front and Center will have many dimensions, all building Delaware’s capacity to measurably demonstrate changes in attitude toward alcohol and other drugs. The campaign targets the entire state, with special emphasis in Wilmington and Kent County where state data indicators show significant need. The core prevention education activity is delivery of an evidence-based curriculum called Prime for Life in a multi-session ongoing small class format. More than 250 people are expected to attend the class per year. In addition, BCCS will host several job fairs that will introduce Prime for Life to participants, create enthusiasm and recruit participants for the full program. Social media, traditional print media and special events will also promote the educational classes, while creating prevention dialogue and promoting messages that have been proven effective in prevention.
The second campaign, BTU – Beat The Urge, targets alcohol abuse among young people (“Y” and “Millennial” generations). In Delaware, binge drinking increases from a rate of 10% among eighth graders, to 23% among 18 to 20 year olds and to 64% among college students. Delaware is significantly higher than the national average for individuals 18 to 25 with alcohol dependence or abuse. There are severe consequences, in the form of injuries from alcohol-related crashes, arrests of minors for DUI, and more than $200 million a year in costs to the citizens of Delaware for medical care, work loss, and pain and suffering resulting from the use of alcohol by youth.
The alcohol prevention campaign has a strong peer-led component. BCCS is partnering with middle schools, high schools, colleges, community organizations and faith-based organizations to reach the young adult audience. This campaign, which also is statewide, will be highly visible through social media, traditional media and special events. A new evidence-based curriculum will be developed in a peer-to-peer format, creating enthusiasm and encouraging participants to get involved with the alcohol-free movement, in order to exponentially increase the number of people who become involved. In our first year, we expect to present the curriculum to approximately 300 young people and to train 20 adult trainers (such as school nurses) and 150 adolescent and young adult peer leaders.
The two prevention campaigns and all of their components will be measured for outcomes and impact. BCCS expects to demonstrate changes in attitude toward alcohol, marijuana, prescription opiates and heroin among high-risk populations. In the long term, BCCS aims to produce measurable, statewide change and sustainable outcomes within Delaware communities related to alcohol and drug use, such as: a decrease in underage and binge drinking, a decrease in alcohol and drug related traffic crashes, and a decrease in costs associated with alcohol and drug-related violence and traffic crashes.
Achieving changed individual attitudes that prevent the onset of behaviors which are costly to personal health, to community health and to Delaware is an important step toward a healthier future. BCCS seeks to create dialogue about the shared responsibility we have to safeguard ourselves and our loved ones from alcohol and substance abuse.
About Brandywine Counseling & Community Services
For 25 years, Brandywine Counseling & Community Services, Inc. has been a trusted provider of outstanding substance abuse and behavioral treatment, HIV/AIDS prevention and education initiatives, mental health and advocacy services. BCCS is Delaware's most recognized provider of behavioral services with seven locations statewide. The core program offerings fall under one of four critical areas of care: Education, Advocacy, Prevention and Treatment. For more information about BCCS, visit www.brandywinecounseling.org.
For more information, please contact Basha Silverman at (302) 655-9880 ext. 123 or
bsilverman@brandywinecounseling.org.
Wilmington, Del. — Brandywine Counseling & Community Services (BCCS) has cemented its reputation as Delaware’s leading voice of alcohol and drug prevention, having been awarded two grants totaling $600,000 a year for three years, to create two statewide campaigns designed to prevent alcohol and drug abuse before any sign of a problem occur. The grants were awarded from the Delaware Division of Health & Social Services, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
“For decades, our prevention efforts have focused on giving people all the information and resources they need to recognize the signs of drug and alcohol abuse,” said Dr. Lynn Fahey, CEO of BCCS. “These two new grants will help us expand these efforts and prevent drug and alcohol abuse before the abuse even begins.”
The first of the two campaigns, You. Front and Center, targets alcohol and other drug abuse among adults 18 and over. Delaware law enforcement agencies reported 5,538 adult drug arrests during 2006, and 2,551 alcohol related arrests. In addition, Delaware is above the national average for marijuana use by young adults, with 10.45% of the population 12 and older reporting they have used marijuana in the past year.
You. Front and Center will have many dimensions, all building Delaware’s capacity to measurably demonstrate changes in attitude toward alcohol and other drugs. The campaign targets the entire state, with special emphasis in Wilmington and Kent County where state data indicators show significant need. The core prevention education activity is delivery of an evidence-based curriculum called Prime for Life in a multi-session ongoing small class format. More than 250 people are expected to attend the class per year. In addition, BCCS will host several job fairs that will introduce Prime for Life to participants, create enthusiasm and recruit participants for the full program. Social media, traditional print media and special events will also promote the educational classes, while creating prevention dialogue and promoting messages that have been proven effective in prevention.
The second campaign, BTU – Beat The Urge, targets alcohol abuse among young people (“Y” and “Millennial” generations). In Delaware, binge drinking increases from a rate of 10% among eighth graders, to 23% among 18 to 20 year olds and to 64% among college students. Delaware is significantly higher than the national average for individuals 18 to 25 with alcohol dependence or abuse. There are severe consequences, in the form of injuries from alcohol-related crashes, arrests of minors for DUI, and more than $200 million a year in costs to the citizens of Delaware for medical care, work loss, and pain and suffering resulting from the use of alcohol by youth.
The alcohol prevention campaign has a strong peer-led component. BCCS is partnering with middle schools, high schools, colleges, community organizations and faith-based organizations to reach the young adult audience. This campaign, which also is statewide, will be highly visible through social media, traditional media and special events. A new evidence-based curriculum will be developed in a peer-to-peer format, creating enthusiasm and encouraging participants to get involved with the alcohol-free movement, in order to exponentially increase the number of people who become involved. In our first year, we expect to present the curriculum to approximately 300 young people and to train 20 adult trainers (such as school nurses) and 150 adolescent and young adult peer leaders.
The two prevention campaigns and all of their components will be measured for outcomes and impact. BCCS expects to demonstrate changes in attitude toward alcohol, marijuana, prescription opiates and heroin among high-risk populations. In the long term, BCCS aims to produce measurable, statewide change and sustainable outcomes within Delaware communities related to alcohol and drug use, such as: a decrease in underage and binge drinking, a decrease in alcohol and drug related traffic crashes, and a decrease in costs associated with alcohol and drug-related violence and traffic crashes.
Achieving changed individual attitudes that prevent the onset of behaviors which are costly to personal health, to community health and to Delaware is an important step toward a healthier future. BCCS seeks to create dialogue about the shared responsibility we have to safeguard ourselves and our loved ones from alcohol and substance abuse.
About Brandywine Counseling & Community Services
For 25 years, Brandywine Counseling & Community Services, Inc. has been a trusted provider of outstanding substance abuse and behavioral treatment, HIV/AIDS prevention and education initiatives, mental health and advocacy services. BCCS is Delaware's most recognized provider of behavioral services with seven locations statewide. The core program offerings fall under one of four critical areas of care: Education, Advocacy, Prevention and Treatment. For more information about BCCS, visit www.brandywinecounseling.org.
For more information, please contact Basha Silverman at (302) 655-9880 ext. 123 or
bsilverman@brandywinecounseling.org.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
BCCS Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Campaign Wins Distinguished SIAA awards
Wilmington, Del. - Brandywine Counseling & Community Services, Inc. (BCCS) was recognized with the Bronze Award at the 2011 National Service Industry Advertising Awards (SIAA), the only advertising awards that specifically recognize achievements of the service industry. Of the 1,000 institutions and 400 advertising agencies that submitted entries, the “Say NO To That Shot” billboard, part of a prevention campaign on fetal alcohol syndrome, was honored in the Outdoor/Transit category.
“Receiving this award out of the thousands of entries is simply phenomenal,” remarks BCCS, President and CEO, Lynn Fahey, Ph.D. “The recognition underlines the importance of this campaign and its mission to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome which is vital to infant health and the health of our society.” This campaign invokes a startling image to create a message that resonates with all who view the billboard and make an impact against the preventable syndrome. Creating this award-winning campaign with BCCS was Hockessin-based public relations and social marketing firm GillespieHall.
BCCS works in areas beyond infant health by providing holistic care to persons and their families living with addiction, mental health, and HIV-related challenges. The “Say NO To That Shot” billboard ad campaign stands out against other advertisements with a powerful message portrayed in a heart-stopping, real way. The SIAA award emphasizes the significance of the topic of fetal health and recognizes the admirable work of the BCCS in this important area.
The BCCS fetal alcohol awareness initiative was made possible by Delaware’s Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
National SIAA Bronze Award, Billboard– ‘Say No to That Shot’
For 25 years, Brandywine Counseling & Community Services, Inc. has been a trusted provider of outstanding substance abuse and behavioral treatment, HIV/AIDS prevention and education initiatives, mental health and advocacy services. The core program offerings fall under one of four critical areas of care: Education, Advocacy, Prevention, and Treatment. Originally part of Wilmington Medical Center, BCCS was incorporated as a separate non-profit in 1985 and has been a full member United Way agency since 1988. For more information on Brandywine Counseling & Community Services, visit http://www.brandywinecounseling.org./
“Receiving this award out of the thousands of entries is simply phenomenal,” remarks BCCS, President and CEO, Lynn Fahey, Ph.D. “The recognition underlines the importance of this campaign and its mission to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome which is vital to infant health and the health of our society.” This campaign invokes a startling image to create a message that resonates with all who view the billboard and make an impact against the preventable syndrome. Creating this award-winning campaign with BCCS was Hockessin-based public relations and social marketing firm GillespieHall.
BCCS works in areas beyond infant health by providing holistic care to persons and their families living with addiction, mental health, and HIV-related challenges. The “Say NO To That Shot” billboard ad campaign stands out against other advertisements with a powerful message portrayed in a heart-stopping, real way. The SIAA award emphasizes the significance of the topic of fetal health and recognizes the admirable work of the BCCS in this important area.
The BCCS fetal alcohol awareness initiative was made possible by Delaware’s Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
National SIAA Bronze Award, Billboard– ‘Say No to That Shot’
For 25 years, Brandywine Counseling & Community Services, Inc. has been a trusted provider of outstanding substance abuse and behavioral treatment, HIV/AIDS prevention and education initiatives, mental health and advocacy services. The core program offerings fall under one of four critical areas of care: Education, Advocacy, Prevention, and Treatment. Originally part of Wilmington Medical Center, BCCS was incorporated as a separate non-profit in 1985 and has been a full member United Way agency since 1988. For more information on Brandywine Counseling & Community Services, visit http://www.brandywinecounseling.org./
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Take the Step Up Pledge to End Underage Drinking
Click here to “like” the Step Up Facebook page to take the pledge. Then, ask your friends to do the same.
The Step Up Pledge is a statewide movement in Delaware acknowledging parents, adults, and children who support a parent's involvement in preventing underage drinking.
The “Step Up” campaign urges parents – and all adults – to stop facilitating or ignoring youth alcohol consumption and to take responsibility for their role in underage drinking. The campaign presents parents with steps they can take to have an active role in preventing underage drinking.
Visit the Step Up Website at http://www.parentsstepup.org/ for information on teen drinking including statistics, warning signs, tools, and solutions.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
BCCS Shares Prevention Work at CADCA's Community Prevention Day
“We appreciated Sara’s participation in the Delaware Presentation at CADCA,” said Dr. Marc Richman, Assistant Director for Community Mental Health and Addiction Services with the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health. “Sara was well prepared, quite impressive and passionate (!) about the work BCCS is doing on prevention. It was received well by the audience.”
The State of Delaware’s prevention team also presented at the conference about current prevention efforts in the state, the state roles in working and collaborating with communities, as well as challenges and successes encountered and what Delaware has done to move forward.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Education, Advocacy, Prevention, and Treatment
It’s hard to believe that 2010 is almost over and 2011 is just around the corner. Every year brings the promise of new beginnings, but this year ends with some big changes. 2011 will be the first full year we operate under the name Brandywine Counseling and Community Services, and we know it will be a good one.
Our new branding is designed to help you better understand who we are, what we do, and how you can utilize our services. By streamlining our services and programs into four simple and clearly defined areas of care, we have demystified our program menu.
The four areas of care at BCCS are: Education, Advocacy, Prevention, and Treatment. Every program we have now falls under one of these categories, and sometimes more than one.
Education means teaching clients the tools to recover from addiction and mental illness, and reduce their Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV risk. We introduce life skills to new and expectant mothers, coach clients through job training exercises, and provide outreach and education to thousands of individuals each year who are not active in treatment. Education helps save lives, and each life saved touches other lives, families, and communities in the Delaware region.
Advocacy means “watching our clients’ back.” How do we do this? We do this by having case managers develop an individualized plan to prioritize our clients’ needs. We actively assist clients with:
Prevention means giving people all the information and resources they need to recognize the signs of drug and alcohol abuse or mental health issues. Our scientifically-based interventions help individuals to recognize HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) risk, learn their HIV and HCV status, and develop and manage their own reduction and prevention plan.
Treatment means addressing substance abuse and mental illness (behavioral health) directly, but also the side effects, such as family dysfunction and violence, child neglect and abuse, infant mortality, poverty, Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV/AIDS and criminal activity. Our programs provide intervention and treatment through the use of medication, counseling, therapy and education. Appropriate aftercare referrals provide continuing support for recovery.
Please visit brandywinecounseling.org to learn more about the services and programs under our four areas of care, or stop by one of our locations to pick up a color-coded brochure.
Do you need a presentation for your community on one of these areas of care? The BCCS Prevention and Education Department will tailor any presentation to meet the needs of your community. We will provide accurate, useful information surrounding a broad range of topics, as they relate to substance use/abuse, and/or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Please contact us for more information.
These are exciting times for BCCS. You know where we have been. Now let’s look forward together to where we are heading!
Happy New Year, everyone!
Our new branding is designed to help you better understand who we are, what we do, and how you can utilize our services. By streamlining our services and programs into four simple and clearly defined areas of care, we have demystified our program menu.
The four areas of care at BCCS are: Education, Advocacy, Prevention, and Treatment. Every program we have now falls under one of these categories, and sometimes more than one.
Advocacy means “watching our clients’ back.” How do we do this? We do this by having case managers develop an individualized plan to prioritize our clients’ needs. We actively assist clients with:- Accessing eligibility for housing
- Providing linkage to community services such as shelter, food, clothing and employment possibilities
- Standing up for our clients’ rights with the courts, probation, or Division of Family Services
- Helping clients navigate treatment options
Prevention means giving people all the information and resources they need to recognize the signs of drug and alcohol abuse or mental health issues. Our scientifically-based interventions help individuals to recognize HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) risk, learn their HIV and HCV status, and develop and manage their own reduction and prevention plan.
Treatment means addressing substance abuse and mental illness (behavioral health) directly, but also the side effects, such as family dysfunction and violence, child neglect and abuse, infant mortality, poverty, Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV/AIDS and criminal activity. Our programs provide intervention and treatment through the use of medication, counseling, therapy and education. Appropriate aftercare referrals provide continuing support for recovery.Please visit brandywinecounseling.org to learn more about the services and programs under our four areas of care, or stop by one of our locations to pick up a color-coded brochure.
Do you need a presentation for your community on one of these areas of care? The BCCS Prevention and Education Department will tailor any presentation to meet the needs of your community. We will provide accurate, useful information surrounding a broad range of topics, as they relate to substance use/abuse, and/or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Please contact us for more information.
These are exciting times for BCCS. You know where we have been. Now let’s look forward together to where we are heading!
Happy New Year, everyone!
Friday, November 12, 2010
New Tobacco Warnings and Graphics
Read the full announcement here.
Do you think these new ads will be effective? Why or why not?
Thursday, November 4, 2010
BCCS Fetal Alcohol Campaign Wins Prestigious MarCom Award
‘Say NO to that Shot’ Billboard Wins 2010 International Awards Competition, ‘Life is Competitive” Billboard Receives Honorable Mention
Wilmington, DE – Brandywine Counseling & Community Services, Inc (BCCS) is pleased to announce its Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Campaign has been recognized with the 2010 Platinum MarCom Award, an international awards competition that recognizes outstanding creative communications achievement.
“It is a tremendous honor for our campaign to be recognized among the thousands of entries that were submitted from around the world,” said CEO Lynn Fahey, Ph.D. “The prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome is vitally important and the excellence of this campaign enhances that mission.”
BCCS’s “Say NO to that shot” billboard was the recipient of the Platinum Award, while its “Life is Competitive” billboard was the recipient of an Honorable Mention. A part of BCCS’s Prevention Initiatives, both billboards were designed to discourage alcohol abuse, though the “Say NO to that shot” outdoor advertisement specifically focused on preventing fetal alcohol syndrome, a group of physical, behavioral and learning conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy.
“This is just fabulous,” said Bridget Paverd who heads up GillespieHall, the social marketing firm responsible for the campaign. “Brandywine Counseling is an extraordinary client who is totally immersed in its mission and goals – their passion transfers onto us very easily. This honor is something we share on every level with BCCS.” GillespieHall president, Neal Hall, a Harvard trained physician, recognizes that GH’s clients trust the GH team to change behaviors. “Our campaigns are all about creating awareness and garnering real results.”
2010 MarCom Platinum Award Winner – Billboard for Brandywine Counseling & Community Services
2010 MarCom Award Winner H.M. – Billboard for Brandywine Counseling & Community Services
Brandywine Counseling & Community Services, Inc. (BCCS) is a community organization that provides holistic care to persons and their families living with addiction, mental health, and HIV-related challenges. BCCS is Delaware's most recognized provider of behavioral services with seven locations statewide. For more information, please visit www.brandywinecounseling.org.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Delaware Has Nation's 7th Highest Binge Drinking Rate
Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks within two hours for women, five or more for men.
Binge drinking and alcoholism are responsible for nearly 80,000 deaths each year. Binge drinkers, for the most part, are not addicts.
One reason that binge drinking has not fallen during the past 15 years is because it's not widely recognized as a "risky health behavior," said Tom Frieden, director of the CDC.
Prevention efforts therefore need to focus on awareness of the lifestyle risks, such as car crashes, as well as risky criminal or sexual behaviors. In addition, we should promote alternative choices in activities, so that binge drinking becomes a less attractive option.
Why the rate is so high in Delaware compared to other states is unknown, according to local counselors who have treated binge drinkers.
Why do you think Delaware's rate is so high? What else can be done about this serious public health issue?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)