Bucks Promise for Youth & Communities

8th Annual BC Resiliency Conference

2012-01-25T10:49:00.001-05:00

SAVE THE DATE

“Resiliency in Motion”,
A Day in the life of a family [sibling stories, youth presentations, stress reduction]

Wednesday, March 21,2012
9:00a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Spring Mill Manor, Ivyland, PA

Prescription Drug Take Back Day

2011-10-13T21:56:00.003-04:00

On Oct. 29, 2011 communities across Bucks County will participate in a national initiative designed to help reduce prescription drug abuse and to protect the environment by providing for safe disposal of potentially dangerous controlled substances from household medicine cabinets. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA's) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day provides an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted or unused prescription and over-the-counter medications for proper and safe destruction. More than 40 collection sites throughout the county will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

To find the list of drop-off sites, click here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w3nolr6RoVklY3bnjsdUi8NKWFnHpDRJJAVmJPrzQGs/edit?hl=en_US

SAVE THE DATE!

2011-08-23T09:09:00.001-04:00

Bucks Promise for Youth and Communities 10-Year Anniversary
Celebrating our Communities that Care

Please Save the Date...
Wednesday, September 28th at 9:00 a.m
at the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission

*site location may change.

Update from the new Bucks Promise Coordinator

2011-07-27T08:21:00.000-04:00

Dear Fellow Bucks Promise Members,

I was recently provided with the opportunity to work as the part-time Program Coordinator for Bucks Promise for Youth & Communities. It is with great enthusiasm that I would like to introduce myself. In past years, prior to working for TODAY, Inc., as a trained Incredible Years Parenting Series facilitator, I served Bucks Promise as a member, Vice-Chair and briefly as Chair. Former Bucks Promise Program Coordinator, Shannon Hibbs greatly contributed her skills and knowledge to Bucks Promise and will continue to serve as an active member through representing the Bensalem coalition of “Building a Better Bensalem Together” as their Community Mobilizer.

Recently, I have started receiving emails concerning Bucks Promise and updates regarding upcoming events. In September, I look forward to meeting or seeing all of you again for the scheduled Strategic Planning Meeting; meeting details are to follow. We are not going to meet during the heat of the summer, July or August. The Meeting scheduled for July 27 is for the Executive Board of Bucks Promise.

With great anticipation, I look forward to the coming year and helping to facilitate bringing the promises to Bucks County.

Sincerely, Donna Foisy

SOCIAL MEDIA: PROMOTING PREVENTION MESSAGES IN YOUR COMMUNITY

2011-06-14T10:31:00.001-04:00

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. and Bucks Promise for Youth & Communities
Present:

SOCIAL MEDIA: PROMOTING PREVENTION MESSAGES IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Presenter: LAURA POWERS, Vice President of Marketing Furia Rubel Communications, Inc.

• Learn to stay competitive in the new Web 2.0 age
• How to build your social media presence and capitalize on social networking opportunities
• Tips and strategies to connect with constituents and spread key messages through social media outlets
• Explore different forms of social media and which outlets make sense for you

The program will provide practical tips about where organizations and staff should focus their energy in order to reach the right audiences and achieve their messaging, marketing, fundraising and development objectives Bucks County prevention providers will also hold a panel discussion sharing successes and strategies that have worked for them.

DATE: June 27, 2011, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Breakfast & Lunch will be served
Registration & Breakfast beginning at 8:00 a.m.
Spring Mill Manor, 80 Jacksonville Rd., Ivyland, PA 18974

To register email Mary Ennis at: mennis@councilsepa.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County Event

2011-05-10T15:42:00.002-04:00

Join us on June 10th for Evening Bowling and fun at Thunderbird Lanes in Warminster.
Donate $25 to bowl for 1 hour and 45 minutes.
The funds raised will help fund BBBSBC mentoring initiatives of matching children with adult mentors.
Register online at www.eveningbowling.kintera.org.
Choose your bowling time 7PM or 9PM.
For more information: contact Sue Gelb at: 215-343-8260 x110 or gelb@bbbsbc.org

Bucks County Prescription Take Back Program: Saturday, April 30, 2011

2011-04-17T21:54:00.010-04:00

Turn in your unused, unneeded or expired medications for safe disposal.

Free and anonymous.

For more information and drop off sites, please click on the link to view to flyer.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B3dZDH9HiJkVYTg4OTc5NDctOGQzOC00Zjc3LWFkYWItYzQzNDRlMjhkMzY1&hl=en&authkey=CJfpku8O

DIVERSITY CONFERENCE: CELEBRATING OUR DIFFERENCES, BUILDING OUR FUTURE

2011-04-01T15:16:00.002-04:00

Bucks County Behavioral Health System, the Bucks County Human Relations Council, Delaware Valley College and Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania invite you to the Bucks County Diversity Conference:

DIVERSITY CONFERENCE: CELEBRATING OUR DIFFERENCES, BUILDING OUR FUTURE

May 25, 2011, 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Delaware Valley College, 700 East Butler Avenue, Doylestown, PA 18901

Please join us for a day to educate, train and celebrate the diversity of Bucks County, PA. Our keynote speaker, Melissa Harris-Perry, PhD, MDiV, (www.melissaharrisperry.com) begins the conference, followed by your choice of engaging workshops on topics such as LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,
Questioning and Intersex), No Place for Hate, Islam Culture, a Panel of Diverse Communities, White Privilege, Immigration, and more. The day continues with a free luncheon and a Bucks County Resource Fair. Our day concludes with a presentation featuring a South African drummer who conveys his cultural message through music.

Who Should Attend: Anyone interested in learning more about diversity in Bucks County, including behavioral health providers and consumers, business people, first responders, including police, probation and parole officers, teachers and other school staff, Bucks County and municipal employees, including human services and government staff, and the general public.

Cost:FREE

If you have questions, please feel free to contact:
Sheri Rubin:slrubin@magellanhealth.com
Mitch Fash:mfash@magellanhealth.com

Bucks County Drug Court Update

2011-03-28T15:33:00.001-04:00

Bucks Promise for Youth & Communities is pleased to have Bucks County Assistant District Attorney, Dave Zellis present on the new Bucks County Drug Court.

Mr. Zellis will provide an overview on this innovative way to treat individuals with drug related crimes.

David W. Zellis is the Chief of Community Outreach. In addition to being one of the top trial lawyers in the office, Mr. Zellis is the Chief of the Bucks County investigating Grand Jury. He has also served as the chairman of the Bucks County Crimes Against Older Adults Task Force, and the Bucks County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission. Mr. Zellis is a founding member of the Bucks County Child Advocacy Center and the Bucks County Network Against Domestic Abuse.

Please join us for this informative session.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 (9:00 a.m.) at the Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Inc. offices located on 600 Louis Drive, Warminster, PA.

BUCKS COUNTY MEDICATION DISPOSAL

2010-11-11T10:47:00.002-05:00

Turn in your UNUSED, UNNEEDED OR EXPIRED medications for SAFE disposal. Free and Anonymous

Saturday, November 13, 2010, 10am – 2pm

Collection Details:

· The program is anonymous – no questions asked
· Prescription and over-the-counter solid dosage medications, i.e. tablets and capsules accepted
· Liquid medications, inhalers, creams, ointments, nasal sprays and pet medications also accepted
· Intravenous solutions, injectables and needles will not be accepted
· Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative
· Empty solid medications into clear bag & bring them to drop-off location for disposal; keep liquids in original container

Help protect our youth and environment by safely disposing of medications at one of the local drop-off locations listed below

Questions??? Please call TODAY, Inc. 215-244-7607 ext. 231

Drop-off Locations in Bucks County:

Bensalem Township:
CVS Pharmacy
3943 Hulmeville Road
Bensalem, PA 19020

CVS Pharmacy
3811 Neshaminy Boulevard
Bensalem, PA 19020

Bristol Township:

Bristol Twp. Building Auditorium
2501 Bath Road
Bristol, PA 19007

Levittown Public Library
7311 New Falls Road
Levittown, PA 19055

Buckingham Township:
Buckingham Twp. Police Dept.
4613 Hughesian Dr. - Lower Level
Buckingham, PA 18912

Doylestown Borough:
CVS Pharmacy
160 S. Main Street
Doylestown, PA 18901

Doylestown Township:
Doylestown Hospital
Old ER Entrance at West Wing
595 West State Street
Doylestown, PA 18901

Dublin Borough:
Dublin Borough Police Dept.
119 Maple Avenue
Dublin, PA 18917

Falls Township:
Falls Township Police Department
188 Lincoln Highway
Fairless Hills, PA 19030

Hilltown Township:
Hilltown Township Municipal Building
13 W. Creamery Road
Hilltown, PA 18927

Lower Makefield Township:
Lower Makefield Twp Police Dept
1100 Edgewood Road
Yardley, PA 19067

Lower Southampton:
Lower Southampton Twp. Bldg.
1500 Desire Avenue
Feasterville, PA 19053

Morrisville Borough:
Morrisville Borough Hall
35 Union Street
Morrisville, PA 19067

New Britain Township:
New Britain Twp. Police Dept.
207 Park Avenue
Chalfont, PA 18914

Newtown Township/Newtown Borough:
Newtown Twp. Municipal Bldg.
100 Municipal Drive
Newtown, PA 18940

Northampton Township:
Northampton Public Library
25 Upper Holland Road
Richboro, PA 18954

Penndel Borough:
Penndel Borough Police Dept.
300 S. Bellevue Avenue
Langhorne, PA 19047

Perkasie Borough:
Perkasie Borough Police Dept.
311 South 9th Street
Perkasie, PA 18944

Plumstead Township:
Plumstead Police Dept.
5186 Stump Road
Plumsteadville, PA 18949

Quakertown Borough:
Quakertown Police Department
35 N. 3rd Street
Quakertown, PA 18951

Richland Township:
Richland Township Police Dept.
229 California Road
Quakertown, PA 18951

Springfield Township:
Springfield Township Building
2320 Township Road
Quakertown, PA 18951

Telford Borough:
Telford Borough Hall
122 Penn Avenue
Telford, PA 18969

Tullytown Borough:
Tullytown Borough Hall
500 Main Street
Tullytown, PA 19007

Upper Makefield:
Upper Makefield Police Department
1076 Eagle Road
Newtown, PA 18940

Upper Southampton:
Southampton Estates
238 Street Road
Southampton, PA 18966

Upper Southampton Police Dept.
939 Street Road
Southampton, PA 18966

Warminster Township:
Warminster Township Police Dept.
401 Gibson Avenue
Warminster, PA 18974

Ann’s Choice Retirement
10000 Ann’s Choice Way Warminster, PA 18974

Warrington Township Building:
852 Easton Road
Warrington, PA 18976

Warwick Township:
Warwick Township Building
1733 Township GreeneJamison, PA 18929

Featured Partner: Bucks County Family Support and Resource Coalition

2010-10-04T10:47:00.001-04:00

"Supported families are healthier families”

MISSION: To utilize the collective power of child, youth and family support entities to educate, share resources and create greater awareness in our community, of the needs that families have for support outside of formal services.

We are a group of non-clinical resources, supports and services that have come together to work collaboratively towards our common goal of supporting families. It is our hope that we can pool our individual resources and strengths in order to better serve families.

Current Participating Agencies:

X-Site, NOVA, Youth Aid, Plant A Seed, Coffee House, Voice and Vision, Planned Parenthood, LIFE, Pro-Act, NAMI, Magellan, Family Friends, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Child and Family Focus Respite

For more information please contact: Karen Plummer at:215-442-1599 ext. 205, karenp@voiceandvisioninc.org

Featured Partner of the month: A Woman’s Place

2010-06-01T14:54:00.002-04:00

Vision: A Woman’s Place envisions a society in which all individuals are safe in their intimate and familial relationships and have the space to thrive and develop to their full potential.

Mission: Place (AWP) is a feminist, community-based social change organization committed to ending intimate and familial violence for all.

We do this by:
1) Enhancing safety for victims, families, and communities;
2) Securing justice for victims;
3) Engaging the community and building its capacity to respond to and prevent domestic
abuse and violence, and;
4) Working to change institutions, systems, and individual practices that condone and
perpetuate violence and abuse.

Contact Information:
Administrative Office: 215-343-9241
24-Hour Hotline: 1-800-220-8116
Website: www.awomansplace.org
http://awomansplaceblog.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/awomansplace

Peace Week Bucks County- update

2010-04-20T10:35:00.003-04:00

Peace Week begins April 22 and comes to a close May 2. There are many exciting events, activities, workshops, dialogues and films you will want to be a part of. Join our colleagues from A Woman's Place, The Rainbow Room, The Greenshire Arts Consortium, Bucks Promise, LYFT, The Bucks County Committee for Interracial Harmony and The NAACP.

Up coming events:
April 22- Vigil Against Violence, Core Creek Park, Langhorne, 5:30
April 23- Peace Week Kick-off, Oxford Valley Mall, 6:00
April 24- Healing Trauma, The Peace Center, Langhorne beginning at 10:30 am
April 24- Playing for Change, George School, 7 pm
April 25- Lost Boys of Sudan, Family of God Luthern Church, Buckingham (rt. 202 off of 413) at 4 pm
April 26- Finding Peace through Sound, The Peace Center, 102 W. Maple Ave. Langhorne at 7 pm
April 27- Random Act of Violence, Buxmont UU Church, Street Rd. 7 pm
April 27- Peace and Spiritually discussion & Art Opening, Salem United Church of Christ, 186 E. Court Street, Doylestown beginning at 6 pm
April 28 - Pray the Devil Back to Hell, BCCC Bristol Campus, 7 pm
April 28 - Allies at Work, Lenape Middle School, 6 pm
April 29 - Building Bridges, A Dialogue on Race, Yardley Friends Meeting, 7 pm
April 29 - Pray the Devil Back to Hell, BCCC Perkasie
May 2 - Closing events, Greenshire Arts Consortium

Check out the full calendar of events from Quakertown to Bristol at: www.peaceweekbuckscounty.org

For more information contact: Nate Harlow, The Peace Center, 215-750-7220

Peace Week Bucks County 2010.

2010-03-29T10:15:00.003-04:00

The mission of Peace Week Bucks County 2010 is to promote the importance of peace and non-violence in schools and communities and to empower youth against violent behavior.

This is the seventh year for Peace Week in Bucks County. The Peace Center along with Bucks Promise for Youth and Communities (a countywide consortium of community coalitions, health and social service agencies and other organizations) is coordinating the Peace Week efforts this year.

Peace Week Bucks County began in 2003 when Brandon Wolff, a high school senior who started SAVE R US (Students Against Violence Everywhere Are Us), and Natalie Kaye, a former Community Mobilizer of the Central Bucks Cares community group, organized a coalition of 12 organizations and 2 school districts to coordinate a county-wide series of events to promote non-violence in schools and communities.

Several school districts and agencies are participating this year in Peace Week Bucks County 2010. Activities and events that have been scheduled will encourage nonviolence in schools and communities. Click here to see attached document of scheduled events.

All events are free and open to the public.

Featured Partner of the month: Lenape Valley Foundation

2010-01-05T14:56:00.002-05:00

Our Mission:
To partner with members of our communities encountering mental health, substance use, intellectual or developmental challenges as they pursue their personal aspirations and an enhanced quality of life.

Located in Doylestown, PA, the staff members of Lenape Valley Foundation have provided compassionate assistance and hope to thousands of children, adults, and families in Bucks County for over half a century. Lenape Valley Foundation has excelled in its ability to provide a comprehensive behavioral health system proudly serving individuals within the service areas of mental health, mental retardation and early intervention services to our neighbors and friends in Bucks County. We offer more than 30 high quality crisis, clinical, case management, rehabilitation and residential programs to provide the comprehensive resources critical to those persons with a severe mental illness, intellectual disability, or developmental disability. These individuals and their families have found hope, renewed spirit, a revived sense of dignity, and the opportunity to live a full and productive life by joining with Lenape Valley Foundation on their journey to recovery.

For more information visit www.lenapevf.org or call 215.345.5300

Featured Partner of the month: Bucks County Schools Intermediate Unit #22

2009-12-07T09:42:00.002-05:00

The Bucks County Schools Intermediate Unit #22 (BCIU) is a regional educational service agency, one of twenty-nine in Pennsylvania established in 1970. Working with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the local school districts, the Intermediate Unit provides programs and services to Bucks County Schools in a highly cost-effective manner. Since IU’s do not have taxing power, local school district contributions support the majority of the programs offered by the BCIU. Some programs and services are also funded by federal or state allocations.

As educational innovators, we ensure optimal growth of all learners by collaborating with our school districts and community to initiate, design, and deliver exemplary leadership, teaching and learning.

There are serious social problems that affect schools across the country; Bucks County is certainly not immune to them. These issues include abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD) as well as school safety. The BCIU Prevention Programs staff strives to directly respond to these issues as well as to support school districts in their efforts to provide students with healthy, safe environments and the skills that they need to make positive choices.

We focus on evidence-based ATOD curricula and violence prevention/bullying initiatives, and we provide various programs and services to increase awareness and early identification of at-risk students through professional development and support, our lending library, and direct student services.

For more information on the Bucks County Schools Intermediate Unit #22, please visit our website at: www.bucksiu.org

Gang Awareness Training and Prevention

2009-11-17T08:47:00.001-05:00

Gang Awareness Training and Prevention
Thursday, December 3, 2009
6:00PM-7:30PM

Freedom Neighborhood One
Community Center
1250 Marie Lowe Drive
Bristol, PA 19007

Register with Darlene Mikosz, 215-244-7607 or, dmikosz@todayincbensalem.org by November 20th.

Bucks County Family Friends

2009-11-02T11:45:00.000-05:00

The mission of the Bucks County Family Friends program is to foster nurturing relationships whereby older adult volunteers provide companionship, respite and support to children with special needs and their families.

About BCFF:

You can work your entire life and wonder whether you've made a difference. Bucks County Family Friends make a difference in just a few hours a week. If you want to feel fulfilled, gain a new perspective on life, and open your heart to new relationships, please join us.

Share Your Skills:

People of any age can apply their experience and skills to Family Friends in many different ways: joining an advisory council, gathering resource materials, raising funds or recruiting participants. Skilled program staffs match individuals' talents, interests, and availability with a role that fits. Family Friends receive startup and ongoing training, support from experienced staff, recognition, liability insurance, and the chance to interact with like-minded, caring and committed people. Persons may participate individually or on a team. Schedules are flexible to meet everyone's needs.

Monthly In-Service meetings held at the Bucks County Intermediate unit on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 10a.m.

Contact Information:

Meryl Lubchansky, Assistant Coordinator
Bucks County Intermediate Unit
705 North Shady Retreat Road
Doylestown, PA 18901
215-348-2940 ext. 1308
1-800-770-4822 ext. 1308
mlubchan@bucksiu.org
www.buckscountyfamilyfriends.org

C.A.G.E. (County-wide Anti Gang Engagement)

2009-09-04T11:38:00.004-04:00

Mission Statement:

The mission of the County-wide Anti Gang Engagement (CAGE) is to prevent and suppress gang related activity within Bucks County through education, training, advocacy, and networking.

Meeting information:

CAGE meetings are held:
•the first Friday of the following months:Feb, April, June, August, Oct., Dec.
•2:00 pm
•Bensalem Township Municipal Bldg,2400 Byberry Road, Bensalem, PA

CAGE Contact:

Darlene Mikosz, Program Coordinator
dmikosz@todayincbensalem.org
TODAY, Inc.
3103 Hulmeville Road, Suite 105
Bensalem, PA 19020
(215) 244-7607 ext. 233

Services Offered:

•Gang 101 Awareness Trainings for parents and teachers
•Gang Prevention Presentations (tailored for students 5th through 12th grades)

Welcome & Overview

2009-07-16T10:18:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the Bucks Promise for Youth & Communities (BPYC) blog. You will find updates, events and opportunities on this site.

BPYC exists to mobilize, build and strengthen the community around our youth to enrich the quality of life in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Regularly scheduled meetings are generally held monthly at various locations in Bucks County, PA. The purpose of the meetings are to facilitate the networking of agencies and organizations representing different sectors of the community who, through publicizing its efforts and sharing information, will support people helping youth to adopt healthy behaviors, reduce risk factors and strengthen protective factors and assets.

For more information about BPYC, please contact BPYC program coordinator, Darlene Mikosz at 215-244-7607 or dmikosz@todayincbensalem.org.