Beginning in April 2006, the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria Steering Committee identified two priority areas of focus, for which two work groups were created. They were:
- Healthy Lifestyles (including physical activity, nutrition and tobacco use); and
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse
The work groups began meeting in August 2006 to:
- Identify other community partners to serve on the work groups that have an interest or expertise in these priority areas, are critical to the priorities, or are already providing programs or services in these areas. To make this a true community effort, the Partnership strives to involve local City agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses, advocacy group and faith community representatives, private citizens, and others;
- Identifying and inventorying existing programs and services in the community to prevent duplication of efforts and to promote collaboration with groups providing these efforts;
- Utilizing the information about existing efforts to help set the initial direction, illustrate where gaps exist, narrow the focus, and plan, implement and evaluate specific strategies and interventions.
- Investigate and select evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention strategies to implement in Alexandria that complement existing efforts.
Co-Chairs of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse work group were Mary Riley, Chair of Alexandria Community Services Board and member of Alexandria’s Public Health Advisory Commission, and Allen Lomax, Chair of Alexandria United Way and the Alexandria Economic Opportunities Commission.
The Mental Health / Substance Abuse Work Group has conducted several activities with a Year One plan in place (see MH/SA Flow Diagram). Initial strategies include:
- Conducting an inventory of existing services, programs and activities for a target population (ages 6-12). This will include reviewing existing resource directories/guides, identifying gaps, and identifying best practices where gaps exist.
The Work Group’s Anti-Stigma Campaign Task Force, chaired by Mary Riley, is conducting a community-wide anti-stigma campaign, selecting youth as an initial target. The campaign is entitled, Alexandria's Mental Health HOPE Campaign.
Mental Health / Substance Abuse Work Group Meeting Minutes
Note: This Work Group was folded into the Partnership Steering Committee in 2008.
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