McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition names Choice Leader Awards

The McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition recently announced their Choice Leader Awards of 2021 at their annual State of Addiction event on Monday, Feb. 22.

The Choice Leader Award recognizes superior professional engagement activities in the community that honor our vision of changing community attitudes about substance abuse.

This award is conferred upon individuals and organizations who demonstrate significant contributions to the community, while exemplifying the coalition's core values, and who serve as role models for ongoing community engagement regarding addiction and substance use disorder issues on McHenry County.

The coalition's mission is to mobilize the community to build a unified focus and empower all residents to participate in substance abuse awareness. The awards this year went to Aptar Group; Scott Block, Mental Health Board executive director; and Sue Murray, author at The Woodstock Independent.

Aptar Group has advanced the coalition mission by increasing awareness of and access to services by collaborating with local providers to provide Narcan kits that were distributed to over 500 people in need of this lifesaving reversal drug.

In addition, Aptar has supported and helped community partners enhance recovery peer support services through residential development and offering employment opportunities to individuals in recovery.

Scott Block has enhanced the coalition mission by increasing awareness of and access to services, collaborating with and uniting community members, providing information and educating community members. In addition, Block serves as a passionate advocate for sustainability planning through development and the use of evidence based strategies. Scott is a constant supporter of necessary programs and trainings that allow our community to be seen as leaders in managing substance use disorders.

Sue Murray has increased awareness of and access to services, reducing stigma in the community, providing information and education in an effort to change social norms. Murray has used her voice through the Woodstock Independent to responsibly advocate for families and people who have substance use disorders and proudly walk in recovery. When Murray covers these topics, she spends the time talking to many of us working on this problem and really reflects on the impact it is going to have on the most vulnerable, taking care with every word - it is greatly appreciated.

The McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition is grateful for the support, reliability, and leadership that you all have shown as we support and build a community that is more effective at addressing substance use and abuse issues for individuals and families.

The McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition is an open community meeting that welcomes anybody interested in empowering all residents to reduce substance abuse in the county, increase awareness of and access to services, reduce stigma related to addiction, and change the community social norms that encourage abuse of substances. Meetings are held on the fourth Monday of the month (by Zoom until socially appropriate) information available at www.mchenrycountysac.org.

Follow https://www.facebook.com/McHCoSubstanceAbuseCoalition/.