Litchfield Prevention Council

03/27/2026

Susan B. Anthony Project outreach and prevention educators are presenting a free screening of the film "The Last Drop" at Oliver Wolcott Library (OWL) in Litchfield on Tuesday, April 7, at 6 p.m.

Being presented in partnership with the Litchfield Prevention Council and OWL, the screening will be followed by a panel discussion – and pizza will be provided!

"The Last Drop" tells the story of a young woman who links her mind with her boyfriend’s using a device that allows couples to relive shared memories. When she begins to notice troubling signs of abuse she had previously overlooked, she must find a way to escape before he manipulates those memories to his advantage.

"The Last Drop" is part of an international campaign designed to reveal the early signs of relationship abuse by taking viewers on a journey through the memories of real survivors.

The film and the discussion that follows offer an opportunity to explore the dynamics of abusive relationships and to better understand the warning signs. Emotional abuse and coercive control can be far more difficult to recognize than physical abuse and can leave lasting effects that are challenging to heal from.

While the event is free and open to the public, registration is required and may be done online here. https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/dtdw75f

OWL is located at 160 South St. See the website to learn more about the library. https://www.owlibrary.org/

See the Susan B. Anthony Project website to learn more about its mission to promote safety, healing, and growth for all survivors of domestic and sexual abuse and advocacy for the autonomy of women and the end of interpersonal violence. https://sbaproject.org/

To learn more about the Litchfield Prevention Council and its work, reach out to Chair Gary Waugh by email at [email protected].

03/25/2026

The Litchfield Prevention Council, Litchfield PTO - CT, and Oliver Wolcott Library are co-sponsoring a Family Book Club event March 31 at 6 p.m. that’s open to the public and will continue the discussion about young people navigating the challenges of the “Screen Age.”

“As part of our ongoing work to empower our kids and our community to thrive during the ‘Screen Age,’ we will be doing a guided book discussion on The Amazing Generation by Jonathan Haidt (author of The Anxious Generation) and Catherine Price,” the library’s event listing explains. “This new book for kids and tweens is a comprehensive guide for living a happy and exciting life that isn’t hijacked by a smartphone.”

The Amazing Generation is graphic-novel-style guide for 9–12 year-olds on navigating screen time and social media, according to Common Sense Media, which says, “It empowers kids to treat tech as a tool rather than a master, aiming to foster real-life adventures, friendships, and freedom over addictive, ‘greedy wizard’-designed platforms.”

Registration is required for those who plan to attend and may be done online here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/dh86uch

Books are available to pick up at OWL, located at 160 South St., and pizza will be provided for all participants.

As part of the “Screen Age” initiative, the Prevention Council, PTO, and OWL partnered for a Screen Age Survival Kit for Parents/Caregivers panel discussion last May, and last April they co-sponsored a viewing of the elementary school age edition of the film “Screenagers,” followed by a discussion.

To learn more about the Litchfield Prevention Council and its work, reach out to Chair Gary Waugh by email at [email protected].

03/24/2026

Hope to see you March 31 at Bantam Cinema & Arts Center for the free screening of
Uprooting Addiction, a locally produced film about trauma, addiction & recovery.

Six people from Connecticut with vastly different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds explore the childhood traumas at the roots of their drug addictions, as local officials, activists, ordinary citizens, and experts offer solutions to a relentless public health crisis.

See the event listing for details and to reserve your spot.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uprooting-addiction-film-screening-at-bantam-cinema-tickets-1982207329482

Join us for this FREE event on March 31st at Bantam Cinema! Pre registration is required at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1982207329482?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hope to see you there! 🍿

02/03/2026

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) recently announced that it has adopted 1-800-MY-RESET as the new National Problem Gambling Helpline™ number, designed to be memorable and easily accessible for the public.

The adoption of the new number strengthens national visibility for the helpline and supports NCPG’s ongoing network modernization efforts. 1-800-MY-RESET is neutral, non-stigmatizing, and user-defined, signaling that individuals can reach out for support at any point in their relationship with gambling. Calls to 1-800-MY-RESET will connect individuals to the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network, which serves as a single point of access to 24 contact centers across the United States, staffed by trained professionals who meet internationally recognized helpline quality standards. The National Problem Gambling Helpline™ is available 24/7, is free and confidential, and provides support and referrals to local resources.

Learn more here: https://www.ncpgambling.org/news/1-800-my-reset-announcement/

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) today announced it has adopted 1-800-MY-RESET as the new National Problem Gambling Helpline™ number. 1-800-MY-RESET is now live and operational to receive calls.

Read the statement: https://www.ncpgambling.org/news/1-800-my-reset-announcement/

01/05/2026

Every day is a new opportunity to make healthier decisions. Help is available for you or someone you know. Learn more: https://bit.ly/44Vzcs4

11/06/2025

The Litchfieldcommunity Center is a great resource in Litchfield for young people (and those of all ages)! We love the Teen Nights program.

Don't miss our next Teen Night!
This Friday...grab your friends.

Scan the QR code to register or visit:
https://thecommunitycenter.org/event/teen-nights-grades-6-8/2025-11-07/

11/05/2025

The LiLitchfield Prevention Councilarticipated in the AmAmerican Foundation for Su***de Prevention Litchfield County Out of the Darkness Community Walk, held Oct. 25 at The White Memorial Conservation Center.

“A huge thank you to you and the Litchfield Prevention Council for both [having a table] at the 3rd Annual AFSP OOTD walk … and for the most generous donation. You have supported us for the past three years and we really appreciate it,” Janet Dember, Team Captain for the local walk, wrote in an email to Prevention Council Chair Gary Waugh.

Janet said there were more than 150 registered walkers and participants raised just shy of $45,000.

The Litchfield County walk is among many taking place around the country, with hundreds of thousands of people walking in the Out of the Darkness Community Walks to prevent su***de and support AFSP’s mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by su***de.

Learn more about the AFSP walks. afsp.org/walks

10/21/2025

The Litchfield Historical Society's 6th Annual Scarecrows in the Meadow display opened for the season Oct. 18 and Dr. Bob and Gizmo were among the nearly 60 handcrafted scarecrows that were there to greet guests.

Dr. Bob, a child and adolescent psychologist, and Gizmo, a mental health therapy dog, are the scarecrow ambassadors of the Litchfield Prevention Council.

“Together they are encouraging us to take care of our mental health, which impacts how we feel, think and act,” the placard in the Tapping Reeve Meadow describing Dr. Bob and Gizmo explains. “Sometimes we all feel sad, mad, or worried and this affects how we behave. We might have less energy, find it hard to sleep, and want to be alone a lot.”

The description continues:

The Good News is there are many things we can do to take care of our mental health, such as participating in activities with people we love and trust. See the many suggestions listed on the top of Gizmo’s house.
Doctor Bob and Gizmo want each of us to plan to actively care for our mental health. TAKE ONE of Gizmo’s worksheets from the envelope on the side of his house and begin to plan how to best live your own healthy and happy life.
Doctor Bob and Gizmo work with their friends on the Lichfield Prevention Council to bring pro-active mental health programs to our schools and the wider communities. Expect to see Gizmo in our schools this coming year. Please check out our website https://litchfieldprevention.org and our page to see our upcoming events or scan the QR code shown below. Please join us in our efforts.

Dr. Bob is a relative of last year’s Prevention Council scarecrow, Chef Bob, who shared with visitors his mission of developing recipes for a healthy lifestyle and said, “I’m interested in knowing about how you take care of your mental and physical health; what ingredients go into a healthy and happy life for you?”

The scarecrows in the Tapping Reeve Meadow will remain on view every day, from dawn to dusk, through Nov. 2, and visitors can vote for their favorites. Awards are given at the end of the season.

The Tapping Reeve Meadow is located at 82 South Street behind the Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School museums. To learn more about the historical society, its museums, and its many programs, see the website. www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org

10/20/2025

Plumb Hill Middle School in the Region 20 school district (Litchfield, Warren, Morris & Goshen) was pleased to host Officer Rich Marsh in mid-October for a series of educational presentations on cell phone and social media safety, made possible through the support of the Litchfield Prevention Council.

Officer Marsh provided an evening presentation for parents and guardians, focusing on proactive approaches to digital safety. Topics included:

How to implement and monitor cell phone safety protections and privacy settings;
Guidance for navigating popular apps safely;
Recognizing potential dangers of social media use; and
Strategies for open communication between parents and children to encourage responsible technology habits.

In addition to the parent session, Officer Marsh met individually with each grade level of students during the school day. These student-focused sessions emphasized:

Safe and appropriate use of phones and digital platforms;
Understanding the permanence of online actions;
Recognizing risks such as oversharing, cyberbullying, and online exploitation; and
Steps to take if a student encounters unsafe or inappropriate content online.

Through these presentations, students and families gained valuable tools for maintaining safety, balance, and awareness in today’s digital world. Plumb Hill Middle School extends its appreciation to the Litchfield Prevention Council for sponsoring this meaningful and impactful learning opportunity for our school community.

To learn more about the work of the Litchfield Prevention Council, join us at one of our meetings, held on the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Bantam Annex, or reach out through the website contact form. https://litchfieldprevention.org/contact/

10/09/2025

Join the Litchfield Prevention Council and Litchfieldcommunity Center for a FREE evening of fun, food, and friendly competition at the Family Pizza & Game Night from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday.

Bring your family and friends for board games, card games, and delicious pizza. Call the Community Center at (860) 567-8302 to RSVP.

10/08/2025

The Litchfield Prevention Council and Oliver Wolcott Library are co-sponsoring an event at the library Oct. 16 entitled Protecting Youth From The Harms Of Va**ng.

Guests may attend in person or on Zoom, and registration is required in part because pizza will be served for those attending in-person and organizers need to now how much to order.

Register here for the 6 p.m. program. https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/8t6ehdv

For those who plan to attend on Zoom, click here at 6 p.m. on Oct. 16. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88628180953?pwd=D3ZQi57KV8EQ8bv7bF22BsI9B9EsDM.1

In the program, the Western CT Coalition’s Kathy Hanley and Chelsea Kapitancek will be sharing their prevention expertise to inform community members about the background, current climate, concerns, and hopeful future outcomes of underage ni****ne and cannabis use prevention.

At this talk participants will:

• Gain an understanding of the effects of ni****ne, cannabis, and va**ng on the body and developing brain.

• Review local and statewide data around underage ni****ne and cannabis use.

• Analyze tactics used by the to***co and cannabis industries.

• Learn about evidence-based prevention strategies and how to facilitate them within their community.

• Understand how to practice productive conversations with youth about ni****ne and cannabis use.