The Rural Virginia United Coalition (RVUC) announces the release of the 2010 Environmental Prevention Strategies Mini-Grant Application.  The purpose of these mini-grant funds are for local youth serving groups and/or agencies in the counties of Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland to implement specific environmental strategies that further the RVUC mission.  This round of funding should be sought by any youth serving community group that would like to address alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) within their community.

Interested applicants should plan on attending the RVUC meeting on February 4, 2010 at Cooks Corner Office Complex located at 2893 General Puller Hwy., Saluda beginning at 5:30 pm. An overview of the grant requirements will be explained as well as how to earn a day at a Disney Theme Park for volunteering. Applications are available to download below. Please call 1-888-PREV-550 if you have any questions.

Applications will be accepted until 4 pm on Tuesday, February 16, 2010.  Organizations will be notified by Friday, February 19, 2010 if their project will be funded.  If funded, Project Coordinators and Activity Coordinators will be required to schedule a meeting with the grantor no later than two weeks following the awards announcement. 

Environmental Prevention Strategies set up or change written or unwritten community standards, codes, and attitudes-influencing incidence and prevalence of ATOD problems in the general population. Included are laws to restrict availability and access, price increases, social norms marketing, and community-wide activities.

Specific Environmental Prevention Strategies to be implemented:

• Kick Butts Day; March 24, 2010: Pledge Wall Activity (www.KickButtsDay.org)
• Project Sticker Shock
• Community Prevention Activity

Checks of $250 will be disbursed to the Prevention Alliance or organization after each project is successfully completed. Each organization can earn up to $1,000.00 with the completion of all activities.

RVUC Environmental Prevention Strategies Mini-Grant PURPOSE:

1. To empower members of the RVUC Prevention Alliances and Community Organizations with knowledge and understanding of environmental strategies and the skills to implement them.

2. To encourage RVUC Prevention Alliances and Community Organizations to recruit assistance and assign tasks necessary for successful activity implementation of the project.

This project is sponsored by the Rural Virginia United Coalition and is fiscally managed by the Middle Peninsula-Northern Neck Community Services Board. This program is funded through a federal grant from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Click below to download the information about the Kick Butts Day Pledge Wall Activity for the 2010 RVUC Mini-grant.

The MP-NN CSB Prevention Services Division is pleased to announce the 4-hour Children First co-parenting education program for divorced, separated spouses, and single parents.  The class will be held in Middlesex County on Thursday, February 4, 2010.

The program is designed to help parents understand the importance of both parents having an active and involved relationship with their children, how divorce or separation and continued conflict impact children, how to talk with children about the situation, how to manage conflict and emotions constructively, how to take care of children during the changes in the family and how to develop a co-parenting relationship for the sake of your children.

The group takes place in a supportive and nurturing atmosphere, the cost is $50 per person ($25 for each additional per person).  Fee must be paid no later than Friday, January 29, 2010.  Personal checks will not be accepted. 

The program will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2010,  from 5:00-9:00 pm at Prevention Services Office, 872 General Puller Highway, Saluda, VA  23149.

If you wish to pre-register, please click the link below:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9DLJDHQ

The MP-NN CSB Prevention Services Division is pleased to announce the 15-week educational series of the Nurturing Parenting Program for Parents and Their Children Ages 5-11 Years.  The classes will be held in King & Queen County beginning January 25, 2010 and ending May 17, 2010.

The program is designed to increase family communication, cooperation, closeness, and respect.  Parents and children – meeting separately and together – learn to handle feelings, communicate needs, understand each other better, take charge of their own behaviors and emotions, feel good about themselves, enjoy each other and have fun.  Practical, effective techniques are taught for handling challenging behavior.  Parents and children learn positive communication skills.

The group takes place in a supportive and nurturing atmosphere, it is open to the public and it is free of charge.  The program will be held on Monday evenings at Central High School, 17024 The Trail, King and Queen CH, VA  23085, from 6:00 – 8:30pm.  Dinner will be provided each night during the 15- week course. 

If you wish to pre-register for the King & Queen Program, please click the link below:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=qUz22B7WMhOeY4GxUdHuTQ_3d_3d

For further information please call (804)758-9398 or toll free at 1-888-773-8550.