Coalitions and Hubs

Recovery Center Advisory Boards

Each of our Recovery Centers has an advisory board that helps develop the structure, strategy, and goals of the center. Board members attend and participate in monthly virtual meetings.

The benefits of joining are:

• Having a voice in strategic direction and programming
• Access to senior leadership
• Strengthening leadership skills
• Broadening your network
• Discover best practices you can take back to your organization and implement
• Opportunities for cross-promotion of services
• Professional development opportunities
• Gaining a wide range of perspectives from a diverse group of individuals
• Staying current and gaining insight on barriers and resources within the community
• Making a difference in the lives of those we serve.

Become a Volunteer in Recovery

Those in recovery can give back! Volunteer opportunities include:

• Calling participants to check in and see how they are doing, informing them of upcoming activities, and encouraging them to get involved.
• Co-hosting mutual aid meetings, playing a supportive role to our participants.
• Outreach! Helping us get the word out about our programming.
• Designing activities and hosting events at the recovery center.
• Becoming a certified Recovery Coach and working one-on-one with a paired applicant who is seeking recovery or is already in recovery.
• Bring your fresh ideas and optimism, we love collaboration and creativity!

NJ4S

An Advisory Committee supports our hub and is made up of students, parents, community leaders, educators, and service providers.

The Committee’s contributions include: 

• Sharing knowledge of existing youth and family support services in the region
• Helping to develop key referral relationships and partnerships with child and family systems at local level (e.g., CSOC, Family Success Center network)
• Informing hub service array (which specific models are most needed/fit best in our community?)
• Suggesting locations of NJ4S service delivery

Coalitions

Health and Wellness Coalition (HAWC)

The Health and Wellness Coalition of Union County (HAWC) uses a strategic prevention framework developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to prevent substance misuse in our community. This process is data-driven and focuses on population-level change and prevention efforts for people of all ages with a focus on underage drinking, new and emerging drugs, marijuana, and opioids. 

HAWC convenes both in-person meetings and trainings, as well as web-based updates and information sharing through social media and our quarterly e-newsletter.

To get involved, sign up for our mailing list or contact us at prevention@preventionlinks.org or by phone at 732.381.4100.

NJ-CARS

It is not enough for peers to be front-line workers in recovery support. Individuals in recovery should be empowered to take the lead in developing, implementing, and governing these services. By coming together through NJ-CARS, we strengthen our voices to ensure we are heard by decision-makers, collateral service providers, and, most importantly, individuals struggling with substance use disorders and their loved ones. 

Our coalition provides an inclusive platform to celebrate the hope of recovery, promote the value of individuals with lived experience, and to incorporate and strengthen recovery support services across the continuum of care for substance use disorders throughout New Jersey. We welcome both individual and organizational members to join to help with advocacy, develop best practices, and keep the recovery community connected.

One Community One Family

We’re dedicated to empowering the Elizabethport community.

The One Community Family Coalition’s (OCOF) mission is to engage, advocate, inform, and bring awareness of substance use and misuse through education, prevention, enforcement, and action to build a safe and drug-free community among our youth population. 

OCOF is made up of county leadership, law enforcement, educators, caregivers, youth, healthcare professionals, faith communities, media, municipal alliances, business professionals, civic and volunteer community organizations, and individual members of the community.

Our goal is to strengthen and diversify community collaboration to address all factors that increase the risk of substance misuse. Currently, our main two focuses are underage drinking and cannabis use.

Youth Tobacco Action Group (YTAG)

Youth tobacco use has grown exponentially in recent years with the rise in popularity of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), commonly known as “vapes.” Little is known about the long-term health effects of vaping on the body, but users are often unaware of the high levels of nicotine in these products, which can be much higher than regular smoked tobacco products like cigarettes.

Around the state, coalitions of concerned youth are educating their peers about the dangers and misinformation surrounding the use of vapes. Prevention Links provides support and resources to empower Union County youth in getting that message across to their peers through our Youth Tobacco Prevention Coalition. Contact Community Prevention at prevention@preventionlinks.org or call 732.381.4100.