The Lehigh County Communities That Care, a joint effort of the Whitehall-Coplay and Catasauqua CTC groups, held its annual meeting Jan. 23 in the Zentz Community Center at Fellowship Community, Whitehall.

The theme for the event was “Prevention Coalitions + Prevention Science = Good Economic Sense.”

There were approximately 50 people in attendance at the meeting. Attendees included Whitehall-Coplay School District personnel; representatives from Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol, Center for Humanistic Change, Lehigh Valley Suicide Prevention Coalition and Lehigh County Probation; Lehigh County Commissioner Bob Elbich; Ellen Kern, as a representative of state Sen. Pat Browne, R-16th; Steve Strella, as a representative of state Rep. Zach Mako, R-183rd; and more.

The Catasauqua Area School District was represented by Amy Dymond-Jones, middle school guidance counselor, and Shelley Keffer, coordinator of student services.

Denise Continenza, CTC coordinator, discussed many of the highlights and advances the CTC and the WCSD have made, including the creation of several short videos aimed at students and parents on the dangers of underage drinking and social hosting, the continuation of the Botvin Life Skills Training in the schools and the addition of the program at the high school level and the formation of mental health partnerships to assist the students.

The CASD has a group called the Catasauqua Community Cares Program, which addresses food insecurity and more among the students. The district is also on its second year of working with Salisbury Behavioral Health to provide mental health support for students. CASD has two school resource officers and is also implementing the Botvin LifeSkills Training program.

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