Our Futures in Licking County to Join LMHS
October 14, 2015
Contact: Tom Argyle
Public Relations
(220) 564-1564
targyle@LMHealth.org
Our Futures in Licking County to Join LMHS
Our Futures in Licking County (OFLC), a local organization that provides drug/alcohol/tobacco-prevention programs to local schools, will soon join Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS). The move will ensure OFLC’s sustainability after its federal grant funding ends during the last week of September.
“OFLC’s mission is to improve the education, social, safety and economic environments of Licking County by reducing the use/abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs by youth and adults, which aligns very well with LMHS’ mission to improve the health of the community,” stated LMHS President & CEO Rob Montagnese, who also is a member of the OFLC Leadership Board. “Drug, alcohol and tobacco use are all widespread in Licking County, so when a program like this comes along that shows good results in improving our students’ behavioral health, LMHS wants to be involved. It is a natural fit for LMHS to assume OFLC’s responsibilities.”
Lewis R. Mollica, Ph.D., OFLC Community Impact Coordinator and Director, said that local support was instrumental in Our Futures’ development. The Licking County Children and Family First Council obtained the federal grant and assigned its governance to Mental Health and Recovery for Licking and Know Counties (MHR). “Notably, MHR has been a driving force behind Our Futures’ success, and we are grateful for the resources that they have provided. The Health Systems will help OFLC become even more attuned to the local community. Under our present situation with federal grant funding, we must meet federal guidelines which may or may not be appropriate for our local needs. As an LMHS entity, the OFLC will further customize prevention programs to the specific needs of the community.”
OFLC formed after a group of community leaders identified students’ drug, alcohol and tobacco use as the most pressing problem in the county. Dr. Mollica, a former Licking County School Superintendent, was selected to lead OFLC which is governed by a 27-member Leadership Board of Directors (see inset). The OFLC goal is to effect change in student behavior regarding drugs, alcohol and tobacco. To this end, evidence-based initiatives, developed by PAXIS, were implemented.
Participating teachers and other school personnel receive special training to adopt the classroom management skills and behavioral modification techniques. All school districts in Licking County are participating in the OFLC program. The program’s initiatives include:
- Annual surveys that are given to students in grades 6,8,10 and 12 to assess the current level of drug, alcohol and tobacco use among the county’s youth and trends
- Reward & Reminder recognitions for businesses that refuse to sell alcohol or tobacco products to minors
- PAX Good Behavior Game to provide teachers with low-cost, effective methods to reinforce positive behavior
- PAX-IT Notes to recognize good behavior
- Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) to reduce child maltreatment
- Youth Leadership Council, comprised of Licking County high school students
Cherry Valley Elementary teachers have used the PAX Good Behavior Game for more than three years. Principal Chet Coleman explained, “The game accentuates the positive. Classrooms are divided into teams, and the students receive points for good behavior. The students encourage each other to behave in a way that will gain points for the team. This takes the attention away from negative behavior. The game has been very effective in promoting positive changes, and as a result, there were only 10 discipline referrals to the principal’s office last year, compared to 35 or 40 before OFLC introduced the game.”
Veronica Link, LMHS Vice President Development & Public Relations, is a member of OFLC’s Leadership Board of Directors. “It may take many years for us to understand the total impact that OFLC’s initiatives have on our community’s youth, but we are already seeing very encouraging results. Some parents have asked about the PAX-IT Notes and the PAX Good Behavior Game, saying that their children’s behavior has improved at home. In addition, other counties’ school districts have inquired about the initiatives so they can model their own program after the OFLC.”
OFLC will continue to receive office space and financial support from MHR, located at 65 Messimer Drive in Newark. For more information about OFLC’s programs, please call Dr. Mollica at (740) 522-1232, ext. 23.
Licking Memorial Hospital has served the medical needs of Licking County residents since it was founded in 1898. The 227-bed facility employs approximately 1,800 staff members to meet the healthcare needs of the community. Licking Memorial Hospital is proud to have been named to Truven Health Analytics’ national list of 100 Top Hospitals a total of 12 times. For more information, visit www.LMHealth.org.