The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Task Force is working to take the stigma out of mental illness, decrease the number of young people who are consuming alcohol and using substances, decrease the number of adults engaging in binge drinking and make mental health and substance abuse resources available. Task force members also develop and distribute educational materials.

If your son or daughter is using drugs and alcohol, you may have been told that certain things you do for them are “enabling.” Meanwhile, all you really want to do is help them. It can be confusing how to respond to your child’s behavior.

In this short video, Master Addictions Counselor Mary Ann Badenoch, LPC offers a reframing of the idea of enabling – one that focuses on setting limits, encouraging healthy behaviors and ignoring unwanted ones. “It’s okay to do something nice for your child,” she explains. “After all, you love them and want to stay connected with them.”

Positive reinforcement means providing some kind of reward or benefit to increase the chances that a behavior will be repeated. And it is central to changing the way your son or daughter acts.

The Nutrition and Physical Activity Task Force is working to promote healthy eating and increased physical activity in an effort to prevent obesity. The objectives are to increase the number of children and adults consuming five fruits and vegetables and exercising 30-60 minutes daily. The task force promotes a wellness campaign and works with schools and community organizations to make resources available. The task force partners with schools, community colleges, universities, hospitals, and organizations to co-sponsor educational conferences, resource fairs, and workshops.