Know the Risks Moco, an outreach project within the Montgomery County Collaboration Council, hosted a public forum on April 9, that covered information about opioids, overdose signs and law enforcement initiatives. Read this article in the Montgomery Sentinel about the event:

Saturday, April 27^th from 10am – 2pm is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day! This event is sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and encourages communities to safely dispose of unwanted, unused or expired prescription opioids to prevent misuse, overdose and overdose fatalities. There are several locations in Montgomery County, such a police departments and pharmacies, that are serving as collection sites during this event. For list of collection sites near you, please see the attached flyer or visit https://takebackday.dea.gov/?src=deatakeback.com Here are a few reminders on how to properly dispose of prescription opioids:

1. Participate in local take back programs. There are several pharmacies and police departments that are registered as permanent location sites for the “take back” program. They will take back your prescription opioids with no questions asked. Remember, the goal is to prevent the diversion of prescription opioids so they are willing and ready to accept your returns.

2. Do NOT flush prescription opioids. Sewage treatment systems cannot remove all the medications from the water released into lakes, rivers or oceans. Please protect the habitats of Nemo, Dory and their fishy friends, and let’s not make opioid infused water a trend! Bottled water and home filtration systems don’t necessarily avoid exposure.

The Montgomery County Collaboration Council seeks a qualified vendor to provide Evening Reporting Center (ERC) Services for youth ages 14-17 assigned by the juvenile court as an alternative to secure detention. The ERC will be a structured learning environment focusing on education, positive skill building and treatment. The ERC is a highly accountable service directing youth towards compliance with court/probation requirements. It is intended to prevent future involvement in the juvenile justice system and/or out-of-home placement. The setting is one where youth receive personal attention to manage behaviors and learn life skills.
Funding is provided for operational expenses for one year beginning July 1, 2019.

The full Notice of Issuance can be accessed here.

Final Deadline for Written Questions: April 24, 2019
Deadline for Submission of Proposals: May 3, 2019, 4:00 pm.

County Launches 24/7 Homeless Information Line The County’s Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with EveryMind, has launched a 24/7 Homeless Information Line, with trained specialists to provide information on County homeless services and shelter resources.  Callers can also provide information about the location of individuals in the community experiencing homelessness.  The reports will be forwarded to community outreach partners who will attempt to locate the individual and offer support and resources. The information line number is 240-907-2688.

Montgomery County Commission for Women’s 2019 Girl Power Contest

This year the Montgomery County Commission for Women’s 2019 Girl Power Contest is faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive. The 2019 theme is “If you had a superpower, how would you use that power to help girls and women?”

All residents are welcome to participate in the contest hosted in recognition of Women’s History Month. 

Submissions may be a short story, poem, drawing, or anything else. The more creative, the better. Entries will be accepted through midnight on March 30. Winners will be announced by April 30. 

Visit the Montgomery County Commission for Women’s website for more information. 

According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 130 Americans die from an opioid related overdose every day. Opioids, a class of drugs that act on nerve cells in the brain and nervous system to relax the body and relieve pain, are often described as licit (e.g. prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine), illicit (e.g. heroin) and synthetic (e.g. man-made drugs such as methadone, fentanyl, tramadol). Synthetic opioids are manufactured using man-made chemicals rather than natural ingredients, resulting most times in higher potency. A drug that is considered highly potent requires only a small amount to give the desired effect. Click here to read more. 

CaringMatters, Inc is delighted to announce Camp Erin, a free, weekend-long experience, Friday, May 3 – Sunday, May 5, 2019, that combines traditional camp activities with grief education and emotional support for children and teens ages 6-17. Led by grief professionals and trained volunteers, Camp Erin provides a unique opportunity for youth facing similar life circumstances to increase levels of hope, enhance self-esteem, and learn they are not alone.

Bar-T Mountainside, 2914 Roderick Rd, Frederick, MD 21704. ​Round-trip transportation is provided to and from the CaringMatters Cottage in Gaithersburg, MD.

For registration or information, on Camp Erin Montgomery 2019, please contact Tammy Schmidt at tammys@caringmatters.org or 301-869-4673 ext. 109

Authored by Pat Morgan, Affordablecollegesonline.org

Going to college is a dream for millions of Americans, yet those with psychiatric disabilities may question if it’s even a possibility. While mental illness may add extra considerations to the process of attending college, there are many options available to turn this goal into a reality. Current college students utilize campus mental health services more than any generation before them, showing that students are taking charge of their mental health and that colleges have services in place to help. In this guide, learn more about common mental illnesses, support systems, and how to request accommodations. Visit this site for more information and resources.

 The Census Bureau is hiring temporary office managers to conduct recruiting office and field activities, personnel and payroll functions, and office and field technology operations. The Bureau also is looking for managers to supervise and manage hundreds of field staff. including census-takers, recruiting assistants, office staff and supervisory staff. The jobs offer excellent pay, flexible hours and paid training. With some jobs, you can work from home. Click here to see what jobs are available in Maryland. You can apply online here. For more information, visit 2020census.gov/jobs, which has a handy FAQ section, or call the Jobs Line at 1-855-JOB-2020 (1-855-562-2020).

Free Tax-Preparation Montgomery County’s Community Action Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free tax-preparation services to Montgomery County residents with household incomes of $55,000 or less. VITA is now scheduling appointments for the upcoming tax season. Appointments are available from January 22 to April 15 in Rockville, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, East County, Wheaton and Germantown. Call 240-777-1123 or visit this website to schedule an appointment.