Sherry Lea, Executive Director of Healthy Dent County recently announced the appointment of Carlos Lopez as the non-profits new Prevention Coordinator. Healthy Dent County Prevention Coalition received a $100,000 grant from the Department of Mental Health to reduce youth substance use. As a Prevention Coordinator Lopez will teach the evidence-based “Too Good for Drugs” curriculum in all Salem and Dent County schools in grades sixth through eighth.
The Too Good for Drugs curriculum is a comprehensive family of substance use and prevention curricula designed to mitigate the risk factors associated with risky behavior and build protection within the child. Too Good develops a framework of Social Emotional skills through the development of goal setting, decision-making, and effective communication skills in addition to peer pressure refusal, pro-social bonding, conflict resolution, and media literacy. Too Good builds the basis for a safe, supportive, and respectful learning environment.
Recognizing that local problems need local solutions, this grant funds local coalitions to engage multiple sectors of the community and employ a variety of environmental strategies to address local substance use problems.
Lopez recently returned back to the Salem area with his wife Gabby and their three sons. He formerly worked as the Youth Minister at Grace Community Church in Salem. Because Lopez has more than 10 years of experience working with young people, we believe that he is a perfect fit for this position. The Lopez family values their growing relationship with God and being available to their community. They enjoy taking their boys to the Salem pool and taking advantage of all the great things Dent County has to offer.
He is very excited to get to work with the Healthy Dent County Board of Directors and staff to continue to grow the organization and help the youth of Dent County make the best choices for their future. He believes it is a great organization that is very unique and has the power to make Salem and Dent County a great place to raise a family.
For additional information about the HDC Prevention Coalition, you may reach Lopez by e-mailing him at carlos@salemcommunitycenter.org or by calling 729-8163.
