Greene County Thrives

10/14/2026

Greene County Thrives Prevention Coordinator Beth Tarlton and Assistant Director Christina Matthews are in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, attending the Prevention Core Competencies Training!

Throughout this 3-day training, Beth and Christina are strengthening their knowledge of prevention science, evidence-based strategies, program planning, evaluation, and selecting effective interventions and policies that can make a lasting impact in communities.

🌟 One of the most valuable parts of this experience has been connecting with other prevention professionals and coalitions across Tennessee! These conversations are creating opportunities to exchange ideas, share experiences, discover new resources, and build meaningful partnerships with others who share the same passion for prevention.

🤝 The power of prevention lies in collaboration. Learning from the successes, experiences, and innovative approaches of other coalitions helps strengthen the work being done right here in Greene County.

The knowledge, resources, and relationships gained through this experience will help Greene County Thrives continue expanding its prevention efforts, strengthening community partnerships, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of youth, families, and our entire community.

💚 Effective prevention starts with education, grows through collaboration, and makes a difference through action!

10/14/2026

Prescription and over-the-counter medications can be helpful when used correctly, but they also need to be stored safely.

A few simple steps can make a difference:
🔒 Store medications out of sight and, when appropriate, in a locked location.
📋 Keep track of the medications in your home.
👨‍👩‍👧 Make sure children and teens know that medication should only be taken as directed by a trusted adult or healthcare provider.

🗑️ Safely dispose of medications that are expired or no longer needed.
Safe storage helps reduce opportunities for accidental use, sharing, or medication misuse.

Take a few minutes today to check your medicine cabinet.

💚 Safe storage is prevention.

10/14/2026

We invite you to our October Community Coalition Meeting on October 22, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Meco. This is a great opportunity to collaborate and connect with fellow community members. Lunch will be provided, so please RSVP by October 16th at 5 PM to ensure we have enough for everyone. Join us in fostering community engagement!

https://conta.cc/4yk9BF2

Email from Greene County Thrives Lunch is on Us! Let Us Know If You'll Be Joining the Discussion. October's Community Coalition Meeting   Lunch will be provided! Please RSVP by Friday, October 16th, 2

10/12/2026

TakeBackDay is a free event for communities nationwide to properly dispose of old and unneeded medications safely and anonymously. On Saturday, October 24, from 10am-2pm bring those old and unneeded medications to a collection site near you: www.DEATakeBack.com

10/11/2026

Strong relationships can be a powerful protective factor for young people.

Being present, listening, asking questions, and staying connected gives youth something important: a trusted person they can turn to when they are dealing with stress, pressure, questions, or difficult decisions.

You do not always have to solve the problem.

Sometimes prevention looks like sitting down, listening, and reminding a young person, “You can talk to me.”

Families, schools, coaches, mentors, and communities all have a role in helping young people feel supported and connected.

💚 Connection can be a powerful form of prevention.

10/10/2026

💚 Mental Health Awareness Day

Mental health matters every day, not just during one week or on one awareness day.

Today is a reminder that education, open conversations, and support can help reduce stigma and make it easier for people to ask for help when they need it.

We can all play a part:

• **Learn** more about mental health and the signs that someone may need support
• **Talk** openly and respectfully about mental health
• **Support** friends, family members, coworkers, and young people in our community
• Remind others that asking for help is okay

At Greene County Thrives, prevention includes helping people build coping skills, strengthen connections, and know where to turn for support.

Let’s continue creating a Greene County where people feel comfortable having honest conversations about mental health and where no one feels they have to struggle alone.

💚 **Learn. Talk. Support. Mental health matters.**

If you or someone you know needs immediate emotional or mental health support, **call or text 988** to connect with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

10/09/2026

This past Thursday, Greene County Thrives Prevention Coordinator Beth Tarlton and DFC Project Coordinator Matt Richards headed back to Tusculum View Elementary for another exciting session of Tiger Time with the fifth graders!

This week’s lesson focused on Real vs. Fake Medicine, Trusted Adults, and Peer Pressure, and we made sure the students had plenty of opportunities to get involved!

💊 Real vs. Fake Medicine: We discussed why you cannot determine whether a pill is safe simply by looking at it, the dangers of counterfeit medications, and why students should never take medicine that isn’t intended for them.

🤝 Trusted Adults: Students learned the importance of identifying adults they can turn to when something doesn’t feel right, when they have questions, or when they need help making a safe decision.

💪 Standing Up to Peer Pressure: Through interactive scenarios, students practiced recognizing peer pressure, saying NO, and making healthy choices even when others encourage them to do something unsafe.

🎯 SAFE or NOT SAFE? We got everyone moving with an interactive game that challenged students to think through real-life situations and decide whether they were safe or unsafe. The students had a great time while putting their prevention knowledge into action!

💚 WHY DO WE START PREVENTION EDUCATION EARLY?

At Greene County Thrives, we believe prevention begins with education, meaningful conversations, and giving young people the tools and confidence to make healthy decisions.

When students learn how to recognize unsafe situations, resist peer pressure, and reach out to trusted adults, they are building skills that can help protect them as they grow.

👏 A huge THANK YOU to Tusculum View Elementary for continuing to welcome us into your school and allowing us to work with these students! Their participation, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn make these visits so rewarding.

10/09/2026

Today, our Youth Impact Team members Bentley Partin and Abigail Bolton, along with Prevention Coordinator Beth Tarlton and DFC Project Coordinator Matt Richards, teamed up and headed into our community to distribute and install prevention mirror and window clings!

At Greene County Thrives, our mission is to bring people and organizations together to reduce substance misuse in our community. And today was a wonderful example of that mission in action! 💚

🌟 WHAT ARE PREVENTION MIRROR CLINGS?

These colorful, educational decals are designed to be displayed on restroom mirrors, doors, windows, and other highly visible areas throughout our community.

Each cling features a positive prevention message about topics such as healthy choices, medication safety, and substance use prevention. They also include QR codes that connect individuals to additional prevention information and resources.

Our goal is simple: Put prevention messages and resources in everyday places where people can see them, learn from them, and share them with others!

📍 WHERE DID WE GO TODAY?

✅ Hardin Park: Our team installed prevention clings throughout all of the park’s restrooms, helping us reach families, youth, and community members who visit the park.

✅ Lamb’s Small Engine Repair: A special THANK YOU to Mr. Hugh Lamb for welcoming our team and allowing us to place a prevention cling on the front door of his business! We truly appreciate his willingness to support our mission.

✅ Eagle Mart and Marathon: We delivered prevention clings to help expand our outreach.

✅ QCare Medical: We left additional prevention clings for Ms. Haley Quillen to review once she returns to town.

💚 WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH MORE LOCAL BUSINESSES!

Do you own or manage a business in Greene County? Would you be willing to help us spread prevention messages?

We would LOVE to come to your business and place a prevention cling on your front door, restroom mirror, or another appropriate location!

There is no cost to participate. All we ask is that you help us make prevention information and resources more accessible throughout our community.

📩 Simply send Greene County Thrives a message, and we will be more than happy to arrange a time to come out!

The more prevention messages and resources we can share throughout Greene County, the more opportunities we create to educate, raise awareness, encourage healthy choices, and reduce substance misuse.

👏 We are especially proud of Bentley and Abigail for taking an active role in this effort. Our Youth Impact Team isn’t just talking about making a difference. They’re getting out into the community and doing it!

To our local businesses and community partners, thank you for helping us create a healthier, safer Greene County.

💚 Prevention is everyone’s responsibility, and together, we can make a lasting impact!

10/09/2026

No one should have to handle a difficult moment alone.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or unsure what to do next, reaching out can be an important first step. Support may come from a parent, caregiver, teacher, counselor, coach, friend, or another trusted person.

You can:

• Talk to a trusted adult
• Tell someone when you need support
• Check in with a friend who may be struggling
• Call or text **988** for immediate mental health and crisis support

Asking for help does not mean you have failed. It means you are taking care of yourself and giving someone the opportunity to support you.

At Greene County Thrives, we want every young person and every member of our community to know that **help is available and connection matters.**

💚 **Reach out. Speak up. Stay connected.**

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis, **call or text 988** to connect with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.