Annual Report FY21

Fran Gerbig, Executive Director

On behalf of the board of directors and the staff of Prevention Action Alliance, I want to thank you for helping us empower, educate and advocate for healthier individuals, families and communities.

This past year brought us opportunities to empower 31 Ohio colleges and universities with grants to invest in promoting student wellness during the pandemic. We educated hundreds of Ohio behavioral health professionals to be certified instructors in Mental Health First Aid™, Youth Mental Health First Aid™, and QPR™ (Question. Persuade. Refer.). We continued to advocate for prevention that is culturally competent, just and equitable by hosting the Prevention Action and Advocacy Summit on Racism.

We paused for a time a reflection and evaluation as we embarked on a strategic planning process. We appreciate the many stakeholders that responded to invitations for personal interviews and focus groups, and we have learned from their feedback. We look forward to continuing our work to “lead healthy communities in the prevention of substance misuse and the promotion of mental health wellness.”

Each day, we are reminded that everyone has a role in prevention. Today, our role — your role — is more important than ever. We look forward to working with you in the coming months, and please reach out to us with your ideas, suggestions and needs.

In good health,