MEMBER ENDORSEMENTS ARCHIVE

MEMBER ENDORSEMENTS

(Amanda Chafee, Steuben County ADA/Steuben Prevention Coalition Chairwoman)

“My passion for the DA’s Office is prosecuting crimes against children, so the mission of the Coalition is a perfect fit for my chosen profession. Through my work with the Coalition, I have co-chaired the Youth Action Forum since its inception. I remain committed to the Coalition because I believe in giving the youth of our county the best possible future!”

(Douglas Wyant, Superintendent – Hornell City School District/Steering Committee Co-Chair)

“As an educator, more specifically Superintendent of Schools, I have committed my life to “doing what is best for children.” Every student has a story. Every student is influenced by the environment in which they live and learn. Through the work of the coalition, I have expanded my influence on “doing what is best for children.” Educating not only children, but adults in our county to make the best choices for their future or the future of their children satisfies my desire to “do what’s best.” To make a difference for the future of our region.”

(Joseph Rumsey, Superintendent of Schools – Bath Central School District/Steering Committee Co-Chair)

Since taking the position of Superintendent of Schools at Bath (Haverling) in 2013, I have considered it a mission field to be part of the team that returns the greater Bath area back to the glory it held during my childhood in this very same community. Whether the positive impacts from the Haverling school community, the economic development through the Central Steuben Chamber of Commerce, the service-above-self attitude of the local Bath Rotary, or through the many other service organizations, the youth of our community are the core of our future. Of all the organizations I work with, the Steuben Prevention Coalition is one of the most key players in our future. I believe the efforts of these community leaders will provide the vehicle for educating the citizens, both young and old, on the dangers of drug use and more importantly, improve the quality of life in our region for years to come. I am so proud to be part of this team!

(Rick McInroy, Youth Program Manager -Center for Dispute Settlement)

In the fall of 2014, I attended a community meeting in Hornell where the topic was drug use of young adults. It was at that meeting I received information about the Steuben Prevention Coalition. I felt so strongly about the mission of the Coalition that I was compelled to become a member. Being a member fits very nicely with my job duties as Youth Program Manager at the Center for Dispute Settlement. Thanks to the Coalition, I have important facts I can share with teens and their parents regarding alcohol and drug use. I have witnessed first-hand where teens have changed their views on alcohol or drugs because of the information provided. This is just one example where the message of the Coalition affected the youth of today in a positive manner!! I am proud to be a member of this Coalition that aids a generation of young people to remain drug free and ready to meet the challenges their future will bring.

(Mark Recktenwald, Guidance Counselor – Haverling Central School)

As a school counselor, I have witnessed substance abuse destroy students and families. My involvement with the Steuben Prevention Coalition has been a wonderful way to expand contacts and work closely with many organizations together towards a common cause; fighting the drug and under-age drinking epidemic. This experience has helped me become a better counselor and educator, and I have a better understanding of the trends and challenges our youth face today. The Steuben Prevention Coalition members are a group of great people to be associated with and this mission is committed to helping our community in drug prevention education. We are positively influencing policy dealing with our youth and creating a direct impact on our local area.

(Laura Vetter, Supervisor, Community Services - St. James Mercy Hospital)

Being a fairly new member to the Coalition I am amazed at the people around the table all with the same goal and mission. School leaders, law enforcement officials, health and human service agency leaders …. All of them not there because they are representing their organization but because they have the same compassion and drive to help today's youth. Representing not only St. James Mercy Hospital, I am also helping to raise three teenagers. The Coalition has opened my eyes to what the youth of today are dealing with in terms of drugs and alcohol. The Steuben Prevention Coalition and our collective efforts to promote and educate drug and alcohol awareness I know is impacting and will continue to impact our youth and our communities.

(Bill Caudill, Program Coordinator – Steuben County Youth Bureau)

Much of my career and personal interests have focused on strengthening communities, with many of these efforts focused on programs and services for children and youth. Having worked in children’s mental health, education, workforce employment, and now the Steuben County Youth Bureau, as well as through community volunteer opportunities, it is clear to me that no one sector of our communities can alone meet the ever-changing needs of our youth. Only through collaboration with other stakeholders can we comprehensively and responsively address the myriad of risks and dangers that face youth in today’s society.

The Coalition is a model of collaboration, where multiple stakeholders together address societal issues that face Steuben County youth. And by empowering youth, through initiatives such as the Coalition’s Youth Action Forum, the youth themselves become part of the solution to make lasting change possible. Coalition members have each demonstrated a commitment to the health and welfare of youth, and the Youth Bureau is proud to be a partner in this effort.

(Hank Chapman, Psy.D – Director of Steuben County Community Services)

“As a child psychologist I see the negative impact addiction has on families. The Coalition’s mission to work toward a drug free community is a powerful concept in that it gives families a sense of hope that addiction can be conquered through prevention and treatment”.

(Kory G. Bay, Assistant Superintendent/PK-6 Principal, Prattsburgh Central School)

I have spent my whole career in education as a teacher and now a school administrator, and my passion continues to be making a positive impact in the lives of children. Kids today are facing more and more distractions than ever, and we as a school community are charged with the responsibility of educating our students on the power of making good decisions. The work of the coalition is perfectly aligned to this responsibility, and as a member of the coalition steering committee, I have an opportunity to be a resource for our schools and the community at large. After all, it takes a village to raise our children, and the coalition takes that responsibility very seriously.”

(Harmony Ayers-Friedlander, Executive Director, Family Service Society, Inc.)

As the Executive Director of a non-profit agency that provides counseling and community based services, I have seen the consequences of substance use and addiction. The Coalition’s work in preventing substance use has been successful in ensuring a better future for the families and children of Steuben County. By continuing to work together we will be able to better address the current epidemic and make a positive difference in the lives of our children and our community.

(Krystle Blencowe, Director, Steuben Rural Health Network)

As the Director of Steuben Rural Health Network at The Institute for Human Services, it is a great pleasure to be part of an amazing coalition. Underage drinking, and substance use by our youth can be especially hard to combat in rural communities due to limited resources, and limited awareness. However, the Steuben Prevention Coalition does a phenomenal job bringing awareness to the community through town meetings, events, educational efforts to both youth and their families, and so much more! I am proud to be part of this Coalition, and it has made an impact in the Steuben community. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
― Benjamin Franklin

(SFC Kyle King, Civil Operations Specialist, NYNG CDTF)

As a Civil Operations Specialist for the NY National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, I work to coordinate statewide anti-drug prevention efforts with local coalitions, Prevention Resource Centers (PRC’s), and NY State’s Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS); to develop a consolidated plan for addressing alcohol and other substance use/abuse through coalition development, technical assistance, and training to create a strong response to substance abuse within our communities, and ensure long-term positive behavior outcomes. The Steuben Prevention Coalition is one of the coalitions that I am fortunate to be a part of. Their prevention efforts are vital in the fight against substance abuse, and have made a positive impact throughout Steuben County.

(Kevin Grover, New York State Trooper)

By being in Law Enforcement, I see firsthand the negative effects addiction can have on youth. Often times, I see traits that started from the parents, which then transpires to their children. Being an active member of the Steuben Prevention Coalition, I see the positive impact that the group, as a whole, can make on youth at an early age and potentially stray them from choices they make; and can impact their future.

(Kevin Costello, President, Steuben County Conference and Visitors Bureau)

When several of our new craft beverage producers mentioned the need for training of their frontline staff in tasting rooms we reached out to the Steuben Prevention Coalition to see if we could work together to provide that training. The Coalition offered TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) to help educate tasting room personnel on responsible service, sale and consumption of alcohol at our local businesses. I was very impressed by the level of professionalism and commitment to creating a better community, that when they offered me a spot on the Coalition I enthusiastically accepted.

(Hilda Lando, Steuben County Legislator)

As a wife, mom, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend I have seen what addiction can do to families. As a County Legislator I have tried to learn more about addiction so that I can help solve the problems we are having in our county. I joined the Steuben Prevention Coalition because I believe prevention can be one part of the solution when we all work together. We may not be able to stop the supply but we can help stop the demand. Our youth is our future so we need to do whatever we can to keep them safe and healthy. As it's been said before - it takes a village - it takes Legislators, Mental Health, Social Services, Law Enforcement, Parents, Schools etc. to work on this problem - our children's future depends on it!

(Stacey O'Dell, Prevention Educator, Steuben Council on Addictions)

As a Prevention Educator, I have seen many things come and go in the substance world and even circle back again, but the one thing that never changes is the impact that substance use has on all of us, whether directory or indirectly. Being a mother and community member as well, I want our area to be even healthier and safer and being a member of the Steuben Prevention Coalition allows me to join and work even ore with those having a common goal of creating that healthier community. Individually each of us has much to offer and together we all work for the benefit of our friends, families, neighbors and communities.