EPIC Projects
Introduction
The EPIC Coalition has successfully promoted and supported several programs, projects and publications in our community. EPIC aims to help both children and parents reduce risks while also enhancing protective factors. Check out some of our EPIC Projects!
EPIC Schools
In 2014 EPIC began the EPIC Schools Project. The EPIC School designation is a way to recognize area schools for their efforts in building a healthy and safe school community. In order for a school to receive this distinction, the following criteria needs to be met:
- Written policies and procedures related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use
- Age appropriate prevention programming on campus
- Empowering students to lead and participate in activities beneficial to the school and/or community
- Teachers and staff professional development training opportunities related to substance abuse prevention
Congratulations to our 2016 EPIC Schools: Nell Holcomb R-IV, St. Mary Cathedral School, Notre Dame Regional High School & Jackson Middle School.
Prescription Drug Take Back + Permanent Drug Drop Boxes
In an effort to reduce prescription and over the counter drug abuse, EPIC partners regularly with local police departments and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to hos Prescription Drug take Back Events. These events are typically held in October and April of every year. People may also drop off unneeded medications at any time it he Permanent Prescription Drug Drop Boxes at the Jackson and Cape Girardeau Police Departments.
- Our last take back was on April 22nd and resulted in the collection of 722 pounds of unwanted medications being collected from Cape Girardeau and Jackson.
Food Bank Backpack Program
EPIC is proud to be able to participate in the BackPacks for Friday program, which provides food for students to take home on weekends. EPIC provides informational materials and other needed items (notebooks, chap stick, pens, etc.) with our logo on them in the weekly backpack program. We provide these materials for 75 youth in Jackson and 125 youth in Cape Girardeau.
Breakthrough Breakfasts
The Breakthrough Breakfast series is an educational series organized by EPIC’s Advocacy Committee and designed to educate service providers and others in the community on a variety of topics that have the potential to impact youth substance abuse. The Breakthrough Breakfast educational series is held quarterly. We arrange to bring in speakers on a variety of relevant topics with the hope of increasing awareness and knowledge about substance use as well as effective prevention strategies.