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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">1005 W. Worley St. <br />Columbia, MO 65203</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">September 30, 2025</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Sara Humm
<br />Public Health Planner
<br />Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services
<br />573.817.6403
<br />Sara.Humm@CoMo.gov
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<br />Lenette Robinson
<br />Prevention Coordinator
<br />Compass Health Network
<br />573.530.7782
<br />lrobinson@compasshn.org</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Boone County community members invited to help launch Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display: inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Community members and organizations in Boone County are invited to attend the initial meeting for the Boone County Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition on Wednesday, Oct. 15. The meeting will be from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, 1005 W. Worley St. Light refreshments will be provided.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This meeting marks the beginning of a collaborative, countywide effort to address youth substance use by bringing together parents, school leaders, health care providers, law enforcement, businesses, youth leaders and others who care about the well-being of Boone County youth and want to build a healthier future for them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unlike a program or service, a prevention coalition focuses on addressing the root causes of substance use at the community level. By uniting diverse voices, utilizing local data and implementing environmental strategies, the coalition aims to create lasting, community-driven change. </span></p>
<p><strong>Why Attend?</strong></p>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Understand how community-level action can reduce youth substance use.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Discover how individuals and organizations can get involved.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Connect with other local leaders and advocates.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Learn how prevention coalitions work and why they are effective.</span></li>
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<p><strong>RSVP & Contact</strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Individuals interested in attending the Oct. 15 meeting can RSVP here: </span><a href="https://forms.office.com/r/quxYrQVJ2y"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://forms.office.com/r/quxYrQVJ2y</span></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Those who are interested in being part of the solution but can't attend the meeting can indicate their interest in participating in future meetings here: </span><a href="https://forms.office.com/r/quxYrQVJ2y"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://forms.office.com/r/quxYrQVJ2y</span></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Boone County Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition was created through the county's Community Health Assessment (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). During the CHA process, Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services distributed surveys and held focus groups with residents to better understand the community's biggest health needs. The information gathered was used in the CHIP process to set priorities, goals and actions. Based on input from nearly 1,800 Boone County residents, youth substance use emerged as a top concern and the coalition was formed to bring the community together to address the issue.</span></p></div>
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<div class="content"><strong>Location:</strong> <a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6f3861f1e730435182b939631f4731aa/page/page/#widget_32=search_status:%7B%22searchText%22%3A%221005 W. Worley St.%22%7D" target="_blank">1005 W. Worley St.</a></div>
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