The East Bay Regional Coalition includes the municipalities of Barrington, Bristol, East Providence, and Warren and strives to promote wellness and prevent substance misuse. The creation of the regional coalition structure will allow cities and towns to revitalize the interrelationship of prevention work with an expanded focus on the total lifespan and its effects on children and families. While prevention activities have mainly focused on risk factors, we know supporting the protective factors is equally important – things like positive parent-child relationships, effective communication, resiliency and skill development like limit setting – and are all things families and our community address throughout the lifespan. The regional coalition structure will not only help prevent substance use and abuse, but will also help increase healthy choices and healthier lifestyles. Our goal is to increase physical activity, improve self-image, enhance self-control, expand involvement in sports as well as improve healthy eating, sleeping, stress management, and build stronger relationships. These are all critical elements to living a substance-free life, and allow our communities to maximize our potential for happiness, productivity and life. The regionalization of prevention in Rhode Island has allowed for the incorporation of health promotion which recognizes:
Positive healthy lifestyle for prevention of substance misuse
Destigmatizing of mental illness and the impacts that can result
Foundations of early measures for families for substance misuse
Importance of stress reduction and support networks
Whole lifespan of a child and how to build good decision making, limits and self-control
Regionalization. Together, we can make a meaningful impact and difference for our communities.
