Tallapoosa County Cares

04/24/2026

This month Community Conversations series has a new location. It will be at the Tallapoosa Extension Office auditorium in the Dadeville Courthouse. It starts at 9am and is open to the public.

🚨 IMPORTANT UPDATE – LOCATION & FORMAT CHANGE! 🚨
💙 Community Conversation on Mental Health 💙
Please note a big change in location and format for our April 24th mental health presentation.
📅 Friday, April 24
🧠 Understanding Su***de: Warning Signs & Response
⏰ 9:00 – 11:00 AM (
✅ NEW LOCATION (In Person):
Tallapoosa County Extension Office – Auditorium
📍 Tallapoosa County Courthouse - Dadeville
125 North Broadnax Street, Dadeville, AL 36853
✅ NEW OPTION (Attend Online via Zoom):
Can’t attend in person? You can now join live via Zoom and participate online.
🔗 Zoom Link:
https://auburn.zoom.us/j/85945789873
This presentation is open to the public, and everyone is welcome to attend either in person or online. We encourage you to join us and invite others in your inner circles who may greatly benefit from this important conversation.
👉 Please register online if you plan to attend:
www.aces.edu/go/mentalhealth
📞 Questions? Call 256-825-1050
***dePrevention

04/23/2026

Tallapoosa CARES met yesterday to connect, collaborate, and continue creating opportunities that provide prevention resources and promote overall community wellness across our county. We also came together to continue planning for our Walk for Hope, happening this September. The planning is underway, and we’re excited to bring our community together once again in Dadeville— stay tuned for more details and updates.

A heartfelt thank you to our April meeting partners:
-Community Action Inc. – Head Start
-Camp Hill Farmers Market
- Tallapoosa/Auburn University Extension – EFNEP
-CAVHCS (Veterans Affairs)

We also want to welcome our new member, Ms. Jean Mosely, representative from the Camp Hill community. We appreciate you joining us and look forward to continued collaboration as we work together to support healthy, hopeful, and connected communities in Tallapoosa County.

04/23/2026

Tallapoosa County CARES Coalition met in collaboration with Integrea Prevention to brainstorm on upcoming prevention community events that will meet the needs and provide better resources to the Tallapoosa community.

03/18/2026

What does hope look like in our community?
We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

03/18/2026

We are excited to spotlight Laporsha Walker, a dedicated member of the Tallapoosa CARES Coalition whose passion for youth empowerment and prevention shines through her work every day.

Organization Represented:
Laporsha serves as the Alabama State Coordinator for Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), a program committed to helping young people make safe and healthy choices.

Why She Joined CARES:
Laporsha believes in the power of community working together to strengthen prevention efforts. She joined the coalition because she knows prevention is most effective when youth, families, and local partners are united in the mission to support and uplift one another.

Why Prevention Matters to Her:
Prevention is deeply important to Laporsha because it equips young people to make safe, healthy decisions before problems arise. Her work focuses on giving youth the tools, education, and support they need to thrive.

Excitement for Walk for Hope 2026:
Laporsha is excited to see the community come together in a powerful show of support for prevention and mental health awareness. She looks forward to standing alongside others as Tallapoosa County walks for hope, healing, and unity.

Outside of Work:
When she’s not serving youth and communities, Laporsha loves spending time with her family.

Join us in thanking Laporsha for the incredible work she does and for being a valued part of the Tallapoosa CARES Coalition. We’re grateful to walk alongside her in this mission.

03/13/2026

We’re proud to spotlight Latawn Taylor, a valued member of the Tallapoosa CARES Coalition who brings compassion, dedication, and community spirit to everything she does.

Organization Represented:
Latawn serves through the Tallapoosa County Extension / Auburn University EFNEP Program, where she works closely with youth and families to support health, nutrition, and overall well‑being.

Why Latawn Joined CARES:
Latawn joined the coalition because she believes deeply in the mission of strengthening our communities through prevention, education, and support. Working collaboratively to uplift youth and families aligns with both her passion and her purpose within Extension.

Why Prevention Matters to Her:
Prevention holds a personal meaning for Latawn. She lost a very close relative to su***de, an experience that drives her commitment to raising awareness, encouraging early intervention, and ensuring access to supportive resources. Her heart for prevention is rooted in love, understanding, and the desire to make a difference before a crisis occurs.

Excitement for Walk for Hope 2026:
Latawn looks forward to seeing even more community involvement in the upcoming Walk for Hope. Watching the event grow each year inspires her, and she is excited to be part of something that brings people together for healing, hope, and awareness.

Outside of Work:
Latawn loves spending time reconnecting with her family. Family time is her grounding space and one of her greatest joys.

Please join us in thanking Latawn for the heart, dedication, and compassion she brings to Tallapoosa CARES. We are grateful for her voice and her commitment to prevention in our community.

03/11/2026

Something meaningful is coming to Dadeville this September…
A day of hope.
A day of community.
A day to walk, remember, and support one another.

Stay tuned — more details coming soon.

03/10/2026

We are excited to spotlight Joanne Finley, a dedicated member of the Tallapoosa CARES Coalition whose passion for community, wellness, and prevention shines through everything she does.

Organizations Represented:
Joanne serves through multiple community‑focused roles, including Camp Hill Marketplace Farmers Market / Finley Family Farm, LLC, and the Business Owners and Future Entrepreneurs Professional Network, Inc. She brings both for‑profit and nonprofit experience to our coalition.

Why Joanne Joined CARES:
Joanne and Ashley connected through the Camp Hill Marketplace Farmers Market, where Joanne learned more about the mission of CARES. As a retired Methodist pastor and a Certified Mental Health Coach through Light University, Joanne has always centered her work around the health and well‑being of individuals, families, and the broader community. Joining CARES felt like a natural extension of her calling to serve.

Why Prevention Matters to Her:
Joanne has witnessed firsthand how mental health challenges impact individuals and their families. Her commitment to prevention is grounded in compassion, understanding, and a desire to support those who may be struggling.

What She’s Most Excited About for Walk for Hope 2026:
With experience as a Church and Community Worker for the Methodist Church, Joanne loves working alongside like‑minded individuals to serve the community. She looks forward to Walk for Hope as an opportunity to come together in support, healing, and connection.

Outside of Her Work:
Joanne enjoys writing spiritual reflections and gardening, both of which bring peace, purpose, and creativity into her life.

Please help us thank Joanne for her heart, her leadership, and her ongoing dedication to the mission of Tallapoosa CARES. We’re grateful to walk alongside her in this important work.

03/06/2026

Tallapoosa CARES Coalition will meet on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the Dadeville Public Library. We welcome community partners, organizations, and anyone interested in supporting prevention efforts in Tallapoosa County. Join us as we continue planning for the Walk for Hope and upcoming community initiatives.

01/30/2026

We’re excited about the progress made at this week’s Tallapoosa CARES meeting! Connections were strengthened and planning has begun for our Walk for Hope this September in honor of Su***de Prevention Awareness Month. More details coming soon — we can’t wait to come together as a community for awareness, support, and hope. 💜

***dePreventionAwareness

01/27/2026

TOMORROW: Tallapoosa CARES Coalition Meeting
📍 Dadeville Public Library
⏰ 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Let’s work together to strengthen su***de prevention, substance misuse prevention, and community partnerships in Tallapoosa County.
Immediately afterward, we’ll host a FREE Narcan training for anyone who wants to learn how to save a life during an opioid-related emergency.
There's still time to RSVP. Please share!