News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cumberland County Rise has joined the statewide network of anti-drug coalitions.
Co-Chairman Denise Melton said being in the statewide network validates Cumberland County Rise as an anti-drug coalition.
“What it means is that we will be able to hire a full-time program coordinator and start our community assessments so that we can determine what areas in our county are at greater risk,” Melton said. “We will also be able to start some additional programs within our schools and that age group of children.”
Melton said the new designation means the state has recognized the organization for progress made in the community for the sake of prevention.
“We just very excited because it’s all about prevention,” Melton said. “If you can stop someone from using, then you have created a better environment for everyone.”
Cumberland County Rise held their first meeting in July of 2015 and became a chartered non-profit organization in March of 2016.
During that time, Melton said the organization established two additional drug take back locations and helped start the OASIS club at Stone Memorial High School.
“It’s a peer and mentoring club for at risk youths and right now we have 13 mentors,” Melton said. “We hope to get one started in our other high school as well.”
Cumberland County Rise also partnered with other organizations to offer medical and psycho education conferences for physicians and staff. CCR also provided drug prevention courses to area churches.
Governor Haslam’s TN Together program is providing new funding for community anti-drug coalitions in Carroll, Claiborne, Cumberland, Loudon, and Maury counties. The addition raises the total number of Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services-funded coalitions to 46. Based on the population in the covered areas, more than 75% of Tennesseans have a coalition in their county.
