On a monthly basis, STEP-Up Tamaqua breaks into action groups for Support, Treatment, Enforcement and Prevention.

Here are some ideas from the last session:Support• STEP-Up/TAFFN could sponsor a sober meet up sometime in August; perhaps a covered dish at a local State Park or at the already scheduled Aug. 14 Summer Celebration contemporary Christian music event at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center.• Goody bag for inmates after their incarceration to help them get back into everyday life. The bag could include new clothing and toiletries; creating an information card listing support programs, food pantries, clothing sources and wellness programs for recently released inmates, as well as for those going through recovery treatment.• Nar-Anon program will be starting soon at New Life Assembly of God in Tamaqua. Nar-Anon (and Al-Anon) programs serve the family and friends of addicts.• Combining and expanding the existing list of NA and AA meetings in Tamaqua with Nar-Anon, and Al-Anon meetings for entire Tamaqua area, including West Penn Township and Coaldale.• A mentoring program could be developed for recovering addicts.• Contacting the head of the Schuylkill County probation department so that they are aware of when Tamaqua Area inmates are released from the county prison, and to find out if a probation satellite office can be opened in Tamaqua.• Setting up a Life Skills program that would be open to anyone at the Salvation Army.• Looking at transportation needs of recently released inmates who often no longer have a driver's license, as well as recovering addicts who need rides to their treatment.Treatment• Schuylkill Drug & Alcohol provided cards listing drug screening sites in the county, while packs of 10 cards of each (county and local) have been assembled, and distribution has begun around town.• A major goal is to provide local residents with screening, assessment and outpatient treatment providers that are found in many of the communities in the county.• Examine several options to determine which provider can best meet the needs of the community.• The team will be meeting with Robert Bedford of the Stepping Stone Recover Foundation.• One premise of all STEP-Up groups is that they want to study programs and services with evidence-based results.• Looking at a community program in Dayton, Ohio, which brought together law enforcement and public health and community resources to have a significant impact on the drug issue in that community.• Team member Joe Murphy gave a PowerPoint presentation about a 10-day concentrated detoxification program offered by International Precision Medicine Associates of Washington, D.C. The PowerPoint will be available through the STEP-Up Tamaqua Facebook page. The team will review that program at its next general meeting Aug. 22, and look for ways to work with local law enforcement to make the move from arrests to treatment.Prevention• The group created letter its group created and the need to forward to as many local organizations as possible.• Various evidenced-based educational programs, such as Lions Quest, and Botvin Lifeskills• Stressed the importance of an awareness campaign.• The group plans to initiate such a campaign in conjunction with the school district and the community, with a potential date of Sept. 30 at the Tamaqua versus Pottsville football game.The Enforcement Team did not meet last month.