The Best You

The Best You Who? The SAFE Coalition of Van Buren County received federal funding to build prevention work in Lee County by developing The Best You Coalition.

The Best You Coalition is a comprehensive substance use prevention and healthy lifestyle group that seeks to stimulate community involvement to promote responsible behaviors among youth and adults. The first step is to build capacity for The Best You Coalition. This entails having a group of diverse individuals from a wide array of sectors (youth, parents, law enforcement, elected officials, etc.)

from Lee County who are interested in coming together to enhance the health and well-being of youth and adults in the county. Why should we collaborate? Having a diverse group of individuals in the Coalition increases the chances of meeting the goals/outcomes of the grant. Diversity increases trust in the community, the coalition gains fresh perspectives, increases innovation, and there is more flexibility. How do we envision the collaboration functioning? The collaboration between you and the coalition will be based on your personal and professional experiences working and living in Lee County. You will be asked to participate in implementing the action steps of the grant to assist the coalition in meeting the goal of making Lee County a healthy place to live. What benefits would people have from collaborating with The Best You Coalition? Being a part of The Best You Coalition will benefit you (and your employment) because you will gain positive exposure in the community as you carry out action steps for the coalition. You will meet new people, build partnerships, and gain priceless experience. The most important thing is that you will be part of creating a healthier Lee County for youth and adults.

06/06/2026

Back to school? Summer vacation just started!! However, the first day will be here before you know it! Please take note of these Back-to-School clinics with some extended times.

For more information on the health screenings per grade please visit the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (https://educate.iowa.gov/.../student-health.../requirements)

06/06/2026
06/06/2026

Research from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and The National Institute on Drug Abuse - NIDA shows that for every $1 invested in evidence-based prevention, communities can save up to $18 in future costs related to treatment, healthcare, and the criminal justice system.

When we teach coping skills before crisis, support families before disconnection, and reach youth before risky choices take hold, we protect health, strengthen communities, and build lasting resilience.

It’s simple: Prevention is compassionate and it's cost-effective.

Boredom might seem like a minor inconvenience, but for teens, it can be a powerful emotional state with significant cons...
06/06/2026

Boredom might seem like a minor inconvenience, but for teens, it can be a powerful emotional state with significant consequences:

1. Idle Time and Curiosity: Teens often experiment with drugs simply because they have unstructured time and want to try something new.
2. Seeking Thrills: Adolescence is marked by a natural desire for excitement and new experiences. When teens don’t have access to positive, stimulating activities, they might turn to drugs as a way to fulfill that thrill-seeking impulse.
3. Lack of Purpose: Without a sense of direction, teens can feel aimless, making them more susceptible to peer pressure and risky behaviors, including drug use.

The antidote to boredom is engagement — activities that are challenging, rewarding, and aligned with teens’ interests.

To learn more visit, https://medium.com/visionary-currents/from-boredom-to-purpose-how-to-engage-teens-and-prevent-drug-use-d751478cef8d

Boredom may seem harmless, but for teenagers, it can be a major trigger for risky behaviors, including drug experimentat...
06/05/2026

Boredom may seem harmless, but for teenagers, it can be a major trigger for risky behaviors, including drug experimentation. In fact, studies have shown that teens who often experience boredom are 50% more likely to try substances as a way to cope or escape.

But there’s a powerful solution: providing teens with purposeful engagement and positive outlets that fill their time, energy, and curiosity.

To learn more visit, https://medium.com/visionary-currents/from-boredom-to-purpose-how-to-engage-teens-and-prevent-drug-use-d751478cef8d

True prevention is not waiting for bad things to happen; it’s preventing things from happening in the first place. The B...
06/04/2026

True prevention is not waiting for bad things to happen; it’s preventing things from happening in the first place. The Best You Coalition meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 4 pm and are open to all.

For more information, contact Amanda at [email protected]

05/31/2026

Lee County Health Department presents their Kids' Health & Safety Fair. Coming in July. Make plans now to attend! Watch their page for event updates at https://loom.ly/YCnn0Vo .

Being there for someone through a difficult moment can include helping them connect to support. 988 is available 24/7. C...
05/28/2026

Being there for someone through a difficult moment can include helping them connect to support. 988 is available 24/7. Call or text anytime, anywhere in the U.S. You don’t have to figure this out alone. Learn more: 988lifeline.org

Address

2126 Plank Road (Hoerner YMCA)
Keokuk, IA
52632

Website

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