National Prevention Week, celebrated this year May 10-16, is a public education platform showcasing the work of communities and organizations across the country that are preventing substance use and misuse and promoting positive mental health.
On May 14, we celebrated our Prevention Team with an appreciation breakfast at the RISE Center.
The breakfast provided us with an opportunity to thank the Prevention staff for their work bringing important substance use prevention programs to schools and community events. During the breakfast, we also bid a bittersweet farewell to our intern Henry who has supported many of our programs throughout the year.
We also recognized this year’s Pat Ganter Scholarship Award recipient, Wilson High School senior Bella DiGiacomo. Click here to learn more about the scholarship.
For the second year in a row, our Prevention Team recognized several local educators with Excellence in Prevention Awards during National Prevention Week. Our Prevention Specialists made visits to three different schools, surprising the award recipients with certificates and thanking them for the work they do to help their students gain the skills needed to avoid substance use and lead healthy lives. Recipients are pictured below.
Tim Rothermel, Earl Elementary, Boyertown School District shown with COCA’s Sonia Santiago
Lauren Conazman (center) Green Valley Elementary School, Wilson School District, with COCA’s Teresa Detweiler & Leslie Houck
2nd Grade teachers at Shiloh Hills Elementary with COCA’s Teresa Detweiler (center).
Each year, National Prevention Week provides an opportunity to for us raise awareness about the work being done by the COCA Prevention Staff to deliver substance use prevention programs to youth and the community. This year, we have asked all our Prevention professionals to share their answer to the question “What Prevention Means to Me?” See below their responses.
May is National Treatment Court MonthRead More »
National Prevention Week 2026Read More »
Kratom: The New Substance on the RiseRead More »
Traveling Quit Kit TourRead More »
