Many people helped to make this a special event and they deserve our thanks.  We would like to thank the John Barry School, the Meriden Board of Education, MidState Medical Center, the Meriden Police Department, and a special thanks to Santa for his guest appearance. Special thanks go to Officer Hector Cardona, his family and the Voices of Christmas singers and band members who made the evening magical.  Each year it gets better and better! Thank you for bringing a little piece of joy to Meriden for the holidays. 

Marlene F. McGann, Executive Director
Christelle Aubé, Prevention Coordinator

Sat. Oct. 15, 2005
4th Annual ¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! Community Celebration
A Huge Success...

Over 200 young women ages 9–14, their mothers/caregivers, and other attendees participated in the fourth annual ¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! (I am Unique! I am Latina!) Community Celebration on Saturday, October 15th at Washington Middle School.  The event presented education and information on developing and maintaining healthy lifestyles while also building self-esteem.  Guest speakers included Meriden Mayor Mark Benigni, Superintendent of Schools Mary Cortright, and State Representative Cathy Abercrombie.  The keynote speaker Dr. Susan Weinberger, known professionally as “Dr. Mentor,” encouraged the group to seek role models.  She also challenged the parents to serve as mentors to youngsters and encouraged the girls to build their self-esteem.

The celebration also featured 14 community agencies as part of the wellness expo that distributed information to the attendees.  One of the new participating agencies, Soul Friends, brought the Maltese/Poodle mix pup, named Joy to meet the girls. After lunch the girls and mothers/caregivers were treated to entertainment by “2 Hot 2 Handle” with six students from Meriden schools.  “Latina Flair” featured two dancers from high schools in Meriden and Southington.  These dancers also taught their moves to participants of all ages!  

The final performance of the day was presented by Playtivity, who distributed a variety of instruments to the girls to play.  The day ended with door prizes and goody bags to everyone who attended the event. One participant wrote on her evaluation, “I think Soy Unica! Soy Latina! is a really great program for all girls because they can come together and just talk about anything.  I’m looking forward to coming NEXT YEAR!! THANKS.” 

Major sponsorship for Soy Unica! Soy Latina! was provided by Colonial Flooring Plus, Cuno Foundation, Rushford, Inc., and MidState Medical Center.  The keynote speaker was sponsored by Kelli’s, a Salon and owner Kelley Moore served as the “mistress of ceremonies.”  Additional sponsorship support was given by the Meriden Board of Education, a large number of area businesses and individuals.  Special thanks to Silver City Sound. The event was organized by the Meriden and Wallingford Substance Abuse Council, along with an organizing committee consisting of ten people from various agencies.

Check out this new website that provides teens with straightforward information on drug use, providing them real life examples of how drug use can impact their lives.  www.justthinktwice.com

B.A.B.E.S. Program
Click for details

MAWSAC Joins with DMHAS To Start CT Statewide Task Force on Inhalants
In recent years, inhaling house hold products or “huffing”  has become prevalent among young people.  Children, some as young as 5^th graders, have begun to inhale anything they can find in the hope of getting “high” from its fumes.  Some of the products used by these children have been lighter fluid, hair spray, white out, deodorant, air freshener, and gasoline, and the list goes on and on.  In recent years, this has led to brain damage in some children and even death.  In fact, 36% of youth who die from inhalant use die on the first time they use an inhalant.  

The problem is that these products that are commonly found in households and schools and can easily be purchased contain poisonous chemicals that are harmful or even fatal when inhaled.  Youth, parents and other adults are just unaware of this fact. In addition, these products are readily available to them.  

In response to this problem, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, in conjunction with the Meriden and Wallingford Substance Abuse Council, recently established the CT Inhalant Task Force. Their goal is twofold:  to increase the awareness of inhalant abuse and to prevent inhalant abuse.  This task force is comprised of police officers, members of Connecticut Safe Kids, Connecticut Poison Control,  Department of Health and Human Services,  Governor's Prevention Partnership, and various health and youth serving organizations who work toward the welfare and safety of children.   

Some of the warning signs are:  a change in friends or interests, decline in school performance, disoriented/dazed appearance, slurred speech, chemical odors on cloths/breath/backpack, red spots or sores around nose and/or mouth,  headaches more than usual,  finding empty  lighters or spray cans or household cleaner containers, and finding of rags or plastic bags with chemical odors on them.  

For more information on the CT Task Force on Inhalants, contact  MAWSAC at mawsac@aol.com. If you think your child may be experimenting with inhalants, please consider these resources:   Infoline at 211 or on the web at www.inhalant.org.  In a poison emergency, call 1-800-222-1222 or 911 in CT.

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