During the 19 Days of Activism, the Child Advocacy Center has two goals. The first goal is that the 19 partner agencies will sponsor press releases to educate our community about child abuse, with a focus on the impact of opioids and substance abuse on children.  

Here's how Prevention Coalition for Success helps:

The Prevention Coalition for Success (PC4S) is excited to be partnering with the Child Advocacy Center for the 19 Days of Activism for the Prevention of Violence and Abuse Against Children and Youth. PC4S’s focus is drug prevention, awareness, and education. As a community organization, we know that substance abuse and violent crime can go hand and hand.

At PC4S, we partner with communities and community leaders to strengthen the community for both youth and adults of Rutherford County, through the prevention of substance abuse and violent crime. We do so by addressing the factors that increase substance abuse and arming our community partners with the knowledge and support to minimize the risk of substance abuse. The Coalition works to increase protective factors and decrease risk factors in the community.  

 When we host and participate in community events, many share with us that their families and/or children do not do drugs. While that is encouraging, we remind them that our focus is substance abuse prevention. We still offer them the information to help continue their efforts associated with remaining drug-free. It is vital that conversations about substance abuse prevention are initiated and continue because addiction can happen to anyone at any time in one’s life.

It is also never too early to start the conversation about drugs with your children. Children as young as 3 or 4 years old begin to develop positive or negative impressions of substance abuse. These impressions come from friends, family, media, etc. and occur even if the child has no direct personal experience with drugs or alcohol. Parents can help guide these impressions in the “right” direction. Even the subject of good drugs versus bad drugs can be an opportunity to start a conversation.

If anyone would like to be involved with PC4S, we hold monthly meetings every third Wednesday of each month at 3:00 pm at the Murfreesboro Housing Authority in the Maple Room at 415 N. Maple St., Murfreesboro 37130.  Also, please check out our website at www.pc4s.org and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PreventionCoalition4Success.

Finally, PC4S would like to thank the Child Advocacy Center for being a great community partner and allowing PC4S to be a part of the 19 Days of Activism for the Prevention of Abuse and Violence Against Children and Youth!