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Back to Prevention Stories
National Night Out
Hosted by:
Guidance Care Center, Inc.
Please briefly describe your Communities Talk activity.
On August 6, 2024, the Sheriff’s Office, Key West Police Department, members of the U.S. Coast Guard, and community partners, including ourselves, hosted National Night Out events in four locations throughout the Florida Keys. The goal of National Night Out is to bring the community together and discuss ways to make our neighborhoods cleaner, safer, and more secure. The Guidance/Care Center’s (GCC) Prevention and Mobile Crisis Teams were present at all locations, providing valuable resources and support. We had a fantastic turnout! In Islamorada, GCC staff brought a bubble machine and games to engage the kids. Sharon Williams, prevention specialist, shared that they spoke with many families and handed out lots of brochures and information, which was wonderful. Our prevention coordinator, Bronte Walsh, was stationed at the Sheriff’s Hanger in Marathon. While this event was a little smaller, we still engaged many families in discussions about Mobile Crisis Response (MRT) and the different prevention programs we offer in schools. In Key Largo, Elena Adams, our crisis counselor, worked with law enforcement to share information about MRT and connect with the community. Finally, in Key West, Tammi Crunk, prevention specialist, teamed up with crisis counselor Jose Jean-Pierre to hand out badges that were specially made for the event and to involve the community.
How does alcohol and other drug misuse affect your community?
The goal of National Night Out is to bring the community together and discuss ways to make our neighborhoods cleaner, safer, and more secure. Community members had the chance to learn how to increase their crime prevention awareness. Each event featured displays from the Sheriff’s Office’s elite units, such as the Dive Team, SWAT, and Crime Scene Investigation, along with partners like the U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Highway Patrol, and Monroe County Fire Rescue. The GCC Prevention and Mobile Crisis Teams were present at all locations, providing valuable resources, support, and information on substance misuse.
Which prevention strategy(ies), as defined by SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, best fit your Communities Talk activity?
- Information Dissemination Strategy - focuses on improving awareness and knowledge of the effects of AOD issues on communities and families through “one-way” communication with the audience such as speaking engagements, health fairs, and distribution of print materials.
What goal(s) did you hope to accomplish with your Communities Talk activity?
- Develop strategic plans to reduce and prevent alcohol and/or other drug misuse.
Did you accomplish your goal(s)?
Yes
How did you overcome these challenges?
We did not find any challenges during this activity. We do hope to provide further brochures and information in the future.
What are your next steps?
- Support new prevention policies, legislation, or social ordinances
- Strengthen our relationship with our coalitions and get further involved in the community as a partnership beyond the schools.
Which of the following best describes the primary audience(s) for your Communities Talk activity?
- Youth
- Parents
- Law enforcement officials
How did you reach and engage your primary audience(s) to encourage them to participate in your activity?
This event was heavily promoted in the community. Each booth at all four locations had engaging activities for parents and youth.
Which Communities Talk resources (or other SAMHSA resources) were most helpful for your activity?
- Communities Talk website
- Communities Talk toolkits
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