Our Mission
Our mission is to prevent and reduce substance use, including underage drinking, prescription drug misuse/abuse, youth tobacco use/vaping, and other drugs, throughout Essex County.
Our Vision
Our vision is one of a safe and healthy communities for all residents throughout Essex County.
The History of Family Connections’ ADAPT Coalition
In 2011, the New Jersey’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (NJ DMHAS) recommended creating Regional Coalitions to provide research-based, environmental substance abuse prevention services throughout a respective region. The staff at Family Connections, Inc. came together with community members and professionals with the goal of creating a Coalition to bring these services to Essex County, NJ. Within this meeting, attendees created the Essex Prevention Coalition with over 65 members, 16 of which were under the age of 18.
In 2012, NJ DMHAS funded 17 Regional Coalitions, including The Essex Prevention Coalition, to provide research-based, environmental services to reduce underage drinking and substance abuse. The Regional Coalitions collaborate with NJ DMHAS, New Jersey Prevention Network (NJPN), and Rutgers School of Social Work to provide these services to their respective region. The coalitions utilize the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) model, created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to have a structured approach to their daily tasks and services.
Since its inception in January 2012, the Coalition changed its name to The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team, better known as ADAPT. Family Connections’ ADAPT Coalition progression through 2012 has shown that all members are dedicated to achieving their goal and improving the overall health and wellness of residents throughout Essex County. This includes expanding substance use prevention resources coming to Essex County through additional funding from NJ DMHAS and new funding from the federal government through the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
These are just a few of ADAPT’s members throughout Essex County:
John E. Rogers, Retired Educator and Community Leader in Millburn and Montclair
Eileen Fishman, Essex County Division of Community Health Services
Nicole Graves-Watson, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Elizabeth Marques, Essex County Division of Community Health Services
Police Chief James P. Abbott, West Orange Police Department
Guinera Curry, Enjoying Life Fully
Police Chief Phyllis Bindi, East Orange Police Department
Lt. Yasmine Johnson, East Orange Police Department
Deacon Frank Ingalls, Galilee Missionary Baptist Church
Deacon Francis Dixon, The New Hope Baptist Church
Sandra Carella, Township of Nutley, Nutley Municipal Alliance Committee
Kelvin Roberson, Urban Healthcare Initiative Program
Denise Cafone, Township of Fairfield, Fairfield Municipal Alliance Committee
Ann Jocelyn, Verona Municipal Alliance
Officer Bret Wagner, West Orange Police Department
Colette DeGrezia, Essex County Division of Community Health Services
AND MORE….
Youth: Yumery De La Cruz
Parent: Demetrisha Barnes
Business: Deonarine Kripalau (E&M Pharmacy)
Schools: Jaclyn Headlam
Law Enforcement: Lt. Yasmine Johnson
Religious or Fraternal Organization: Deacon Dixon
Youth-Serving Organization: Gino Alvarez
Healthcare Professional: Michael Dougherty
State or Local Government Agency: Eileen Fishman
Civic or Volunteer Group: Deacon Frank Ingalls
Other Organizations Involved in Reducing Substance Use/Misuse: Elizabeth Marques
Media: Vacant
Underage Drinking: Vacant
Prescription Drugs: Michelle Garcia, RWJBH Communities That Care
Interfaith: Guinera Curry, Enjoying Life Fully
LGBTQ+: Saquan Stevenson, Prudential
