VSAAC to present community awards at conference in New Haven

NEW HAVEN - The Greater Valley Substance Abuse Action Council will host its 25^th Anniversary A Piece of the Prevention Puzzle Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 24 at Anthony’s Ocean View, 450 Lighthouse Road.

This year’s conference focuses on Internet safety, emotional intelligence, and prescription pill and heroin use. 

Participants will learn practical tools and skills from nationally recognized experts. 
The cost of the workshop is $75. Continental breakfast and deli lunch are included and continuing education and training credits are available.

Theresa Conroy

Carol Cruz

The conference will also feature VSAAC’s 2015 Community Champion Awards. 

The awards are given to those in the community who take action and effect change in the field of substance abuse prevention and/or intervention activities.

The awards spotlight and applaud the work that is being done to help prevent substance abuse on the grass-roots, community level. 
It is work that is absolutely critical to VSAAC’s efforts to keep our kids safe from alcohol, tobacco, drug use, suicide, risky behaviors, and promote good mental health in the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Greater New Haven and surrounding communities.

This year’s Community Champions include Carol Cruz, CCAR Project Manager for the Young Adult and Families Program; Jeffrey Nielsen, Sergeant, Milford Police Department; Theresa Conroy, State Representative, APRN for Minute Clinic and Pina Violano, Injury Prevention Coordinator, Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Jeffrey Nielsen

Pina Violano

For more information or to register, visit www.vsaac.org

This is a press release from VSAAC, a program of BHcare. 

VSAAC is a public/private partnership comprised of community leaders and citizens who develop and carry out strategies to reduce alcohol, tobacco, drug use, suicide, risky behaviors, and promote good mental health among youth and, over time, among adults through community education, community mobilization, public awareness, and advocacy in the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Greater New Haven and surrounding communities.