ahImGood is Hancock Youth for Positive Efforts (HYPE)’s second annual positive norming campaign, committed to promoting healthy norms and supporting Hancock County youth in choosing to live substance-free!
 
Social norms don’t evolve overnight. When asked how they refuse an offer from a friend or classmate, the response from many of our members was a variation of “If I didn’t want whatever it was I’d just be like nah, I’m good.” This laidback, casual dismissal is an understated yet effective approach to avoid drinking or drug use without feeling awkward or alienated from peers.
 
The key messages of the #NahImGood campaign focus on the facts: it’s not a big deal to say no thanks (not everyone is doing it), there are fun alternatives available (like HYPE meetings and HYPE Hangouts!), and there are local community members who support youth in living drug and alcohol free. HYPE has several sponsors (Papa John’s, Kelly Cannon with State Farm Insurance, Claiborne Hill of Waveland, educators from every school district, law enforcement, and more!) across Hancock County who believe that young people have a lot to offer and make an effort to encourage their potential. It’s important for our youth to know and see that not only are their fellow HYPE members and peers in their corner, but parents and professionals who are also committed to supporting their choice to live drug and alcohol free lives.
 
Hancock County has a fun-loving beach culture where some type of celebration is always underway, and spring offers a lot of opportunity for youth to drink or use other substances: spring break, prom, graduation, festivals, and a coastal summer lifestyle in general. By launching this campaign from early spring through early summer, it will remind our community that there are other ways to unwind and have a good time in addition to the importance of keeping youth active, engaged, and substance-free!
 
The campaign will be highlighted by billboards, HYPE Hangouts, a Communities Talk event, and other celebrations of Hancock County youth working to affect positive change and establish a healthy, substance-free path towards bright futures.
 
For more information on HYPE and #NahImGood, contact Drug Free Communities Project Coordinator at 228-463-8887 or hype@hancockhrc.org.

National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day, held on the third Friday of every April, was created to raise awareness and support prevention efforts to keep youth safe and drug-free. In celebration of this annual observance, Hancock Youth for Positive Efforts (HYPE) designed and distributed special bags to local pharmacies that featured the message “Keep Our Kids Above the Influence.” Drop off locations in Hancock County are also listed for unused or expired prescription medications.
 
These bags were delivered to Waveland Pharmacy, Diamondhead Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, and Mid-Town Pharmacy by Cathy Pitalo, Drug Free Communities Project Coordinator, Sonya Miller, Chairman of the Hancock Community Coalition and Prevention Specialist at Pinebelt Mental Health, and Colby DiMento, Outreach Coordinator at the Hancock Resource Center.
 
LockMed Lockbags, provided by Pine Belt Mental Health, will also be handed out by pharmacists alongside the prescription bags throughout the week of April 12th – 16th, encouraging patients to be mindful of how they store and dispose of their medicines, particularly if using narcotics.
 
HYPE is an adult-guided, youth-led initiative that empowers middle and high school students to lead engaged, healthy, and positive lifestyles. Originally funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and now overseen by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), HYPE operates with the guidance of the Hancock Community Coalition in partnership with Hancock Resource Center.
 
HYPE enlists the help of students from all local middle and high schools in Hancock County to create positive change in their communities and give back through service opportunities known as HYPE Hangouts. HYPE members set positive, healthy examples for their peers in choosing to live drug and alcohol free as well as participate in activities that show courage and commitment to building fulfilling futures.
 
For information on joining the Hancock Community Coalition or involving students in Hancock Youth for Positive Efforts, please contact Cathy Pitalo at 228-463-8887 or cpitalo@hancockhrc.org.

HYPE Hangout III was held on March 6th, 2021. Seventeen members of Hancock Youth for Positive Efforts (HYPE) spent their Saturday giving back at Ruth’s Roots Community Garden. The day began with a tour from Elise Deano, the founder of Ruth’s Roots, who shared the story of how the nonprofit came to be and the amazing ways it’s grown in the years since.
 
From the Blessings Box to the rows of vegetable beds, and all of the provisions and critters in between, Ruth’s Roots provides a haven overflowing with life and art. The space is as fanciful and bright as it is functional, with sculptures, music, murals, and tributes that encourage visitors to live well and joyfully.
 
HYPE members took time to explore and soak it all in before getting to work. A grotto area that holds a shrine of Mary was weeded and rearranged, the Blessings Box reorganized and filled with member donations, and stray debris picked up. A trash can receptacle was built from repurposed pallets and decorated and the Seed Library stocked with packets. The youth then painted three libraries, a sunflower sculpture, a hopscotch path, vegetable beds, and even an alligator!
 
Hangout III was an incredible success and the youth were proud to see how much of an impact they could make in a single day. HYPE Hangouts provide opportunities for Hancock County students in grades 6-12 to serve their community while enjoying time with new friends from other schools in a safe and substance-free environment. 
 
A special thank you to the following community members for contributing to HYPE Hangout III and making the day a huge success:
 

• Elise Deano for welcoming HYPE, sharing the mission of Ruth’s Roots, and hosting us for the day
• Domino’s Pizza of Bay St. Louis for providing lunch (for the second Hangout in a row!)
• Steve Barney at the Bay St. Louis Creative Arts Center for his continued creativity, belief in HYPE’s mission, and support at all of our events
• Michelle Coble for bringing an ice chest of water and Gatorade, it was a huge help - our HYPE parents are awesome!

Hancock Youth for Positive Efforts members attend each of the seven Hancock County middle and high school campuses, and new participants are always welcome. For information on how to get involved as a student or coalition member please email Cathy Pitalo at cpitalo@hancockhrc.org.

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HYPE Hangout II was AWESOME!  Twenty-one members of Hancock Youth for Positive Efforts showed up and showed off their talents while beautifying the walking track at Ochsner Medical Center - Hancock. These youth spent an entire day of their Thanksgiving Break cleaning up the pathways, planting bushes, cleaning and refilling bird feeders, adding new bird feeders and hanging plants, and THEN repainting benches, trashcans, and a bridge.  
 
It was an absolutely beautiful day and a perfect way to honor our local healthcare workers.  We are all so very thankful during these challenging times and always for the outstanding job they do in caring for our community! 
 
HYPE Hangouts provide opportunities for Hancock County youth in grades 6-12 to give back to the community while enjoying time with new friends from other schools in a safe and substance-free environment. 
 
Hancock Youth for Positive Efforts are present at each of the seven Hancock County middle and high school campuses, and new members are always welcome. For information on how to get involved as a student or coalition member, and what it means to #believethehype!, please email Cathy Pitalo at cpitalo@hancockhrc.org.

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HYPE hosted a Door Decorating Contest for all elementary schools in Hancock County, honoring the “Be Happy, Be Brave, Be Drug Free” theme for Red Ribbon Week 2020, and had some amazing submissions from those who were able to participate in the festivities! One class per grade received a special prize in honor of their awesome designs 🎈 
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Thank you so much to Ms. Ladner (Hancock North Central Elementary School), 
Ms. Ho (North Bay Elementary), Ms. Lafontaine (East Hancock Elementary School), and Ms. Skinner (South Hancock PTO) for coordinating the contests at each school that was able to participate. We were so happy to host this contest and can't wait to do it again next year ❤️ 

South Hancock Elementary School Winners: 

East Hancock Elementary School Winners:

Hancock North Central Elementary School Winners:

​Red Ribbon Week is a national celebration held every year at the end of October that promotes living a healthy and drug-free life! Schools and communities across the country come together to support this mission and establish prevention efforts with youth from kindergarten through senior year of high school and beyond.
 
This year's Red Ribbon Week theme was “Be Happy, Be Brave, Be Drug Free!” It was a call to action to speak out in support of healthy choices and be willing to set a positive example, in addition to pointing out the benefits of living drug-free. It also serves as a reminder that we are all empowered with shaping our community and most importantly, our youth! It takes a village, and Hancock County showed up in a big way!
 
Several members of local government and law enforcement agencies came together in partnership of HYPE's mission to keep Hancock County youth healthy and substance-free!

Educators play a major role in celebrating Red Ribbon Week, as well as spreading the message to parents and caregivers about the importance of encouraging their children to make positive choices. Hancock Youth for Positive Efforts (HYPE) hosted a Door Decorating Contest for all elementary schools in Hancock County, honoring the “Be Happy, Be Brave, Be Drug Free” theme, and had some amazing submissions from those who were able to participate in the festivities! One class per grade will receive a very special prize in honor of their awesome designs. A special thank you to Mrs. Tara Ladner, Principal of Hancock High School, and Mrs. Andree Bonnaffons, Director of Guidance at St. Stanislaus College, for showing off their red ribbons during Red Ribbon Week, and ensuring the celebration was observed for older students as well!

​Several HYPE sponsors commemorated the occasion by wearing red ribbons and sharing the message with their staff and clientele. Kelly Cannon State Farm Insurance, Coca Cola, Claiborne Hill Supermarket (Waveland location), Coast Electric Power Association, St. Clare Catholic Church, Bay St. Louis Creative Arts Center, Silver Slipper Casino, and Cuz’s Oyster Bar & Grille are the incredible organizations that support HYPE throughout the year! From hosting meetings and HYPE Hangouts, to celebrating annual awareness initiatives like Red Ribbon Week, their role in building a healthy, safe environment for Hancock County youth and giving back to the community is so very valued and appreciated!

The best part of Red Ribbon Week 2020 were the youth and HYPE members who celebrated the true meaning beyond wearing red and decorations, committing to stay drug-free throughout their middle and high school experiences and into adulthood! HYPE was honored to have the support of so many organizations, institutions, and community members throughout Red Ribbon Week, and can’t wait for next year!
 
For more information on Hancock Youth for Positive Efforts, living a drug-free lifestyle, and what it means to #believetheHYPE, contact Cathy Pitalo at cpitalo@hancockhrc.org.

Hancock Youth for Positive Efforts (HYPE) is an adult-guided, youth-led initiative that empowers middle and high school students to lead engaged, healthy, and positive lifestyles. A partnership with the Hancock Resource Center and the Hancock Community Coalition, HYPE serves as a resource and platform for students and community members dedicated to promoting safe and healthy environments for our youth.
 
HYPE Hangout 1 was held on September 12th, 2020. Sixteen HYPE members volunteered to spend a Saturday decorating trash cans with positive messages and encouragement to lead a healthy, drug and alcohol-free lifestyle as middle and high schoolers. Hangout 1 was hosted at the Bay St. Louis Creative Arts Center thanks to the hospitality of Steve Barney and his staff, who were both welcoming and supportive of the students’ mission! This project is an expansion of an earlier venture by past HYPE students, which resulted in several of the painted trash cans placed throughout downtown Bay St. Louis.
 
Fourteen trash cans were created in total and can be found on all of the Hancock County middle and high school campuses (Hancock High School, Hancock Middle School, Our Lady Academy, Holy Trinity Catholic School, Bay Middle School, Bay High School, and St. Stanislaus College). The HYPE members worked hard to develop thoughtful and bright designs, and had a blast bringing them to life!
 
The purpose of HYPE Hangouts is to provide fun, safe, and substance-free opportunities for sixth through twelfth graders in Hancock County to serve the community while building the foundation for successful futures. The four HYPE pillars are communication, commitment, passion and courage. Each HYPE Hangout incorporates these values into activities and conversations centered on living substance-free while aspiring to be the best possible version of oneself.
 
Hancock Youth for Positive Efforts are present at each of the seven Hancock County middle and high school campuses, and new members are always welcome. For information on how to get involved as a student or coalition member, and what it means to #believethehype!, please email Cathy Pitalo at cpitalo@hancockhrc.org.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hancock Youth for Positive Efforts (HYPE) is an adult-guided, youth-led initiative that empowers middle and high school students to lead engaged, healthy, and positive lifestyles. A partnership with the Hancock Resource Center and the Hancock Community Coalition, HYPE continues to be a resource and platform for students and community members dedicated to promoting safe and healthy environments for our youth.
 
Four pillars provide a foundation for HYPE members to learn and grow upon as leaders: communication, commitment, passion, and courage. All of these attributes are key to developing well-rounded individuals who possess strong character and serve as positive ambassadors for the Hancock County community.
 
Each year the Hancock Community Coalition plans and hosts HYPE Leadership Day, created to help rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders own the leader within themselves. This year the event was held at St. Clare Catholic Church on July 8th, 2020. Students were guided through activities based on the four HYPE pillars, working on solo as well as group projects to explore their impressions of Hancock County and discover the many common threads they share with their peers. An obstacle course imparted the value of teamwork and following through on a goal despite challenges posed and differences in personality. A courage activity led to discussions on the many ways bravery is shown at school or with friends and the significance of one person’s willingness to speak up for themselves, as well as support others in doing what’s right for them.
 
The first annual HYPE Recruitment Day was held on July 21st, 2020, also at St. Clare Catholic Church, expanding on topics and exercises from Leadership Day at a deeper level for rising 9th and 10th graders. A popsicle stick activity encouraged each student to share what commitment, courage, passion, and communication look like in practice and how they’d like to grow in each. Building a tower with only a few stipulations as guidelines demonstrated how innovation and partnership are vital to creating structures that hold up over time. A Hero project consisted of decorating body shapes and adding balloons that indicated what they look up to, look forward to, and work towards – celebrating what those motivations and aspirations resembled for each individual student.
 
Recruitment Day participants were also treated to a seminar by Dr. Raymunda Barnes, Assistant Vice President of the Hancock Campus of Pearl River Community College. Dr. Barnes spoke about ways to get involved, the many paths toward success available right here in Hancock County, and how to stand out from the crowd. Examples were given of paths that included traditional education, certifications for trades, and extracurricular involvement, with one common theme: how to serve the community as positive, committed, and active leaders.
 
Conversations that took place during Leadership Day and Recruitment Day centered on what it means to live and work in Hancock County, and how powerful an impact these students have on affecting positive change. Joining HYPE as an active member opens the door for opportunities to travel to conferences across the country, fulfill service hours for graduation requirements, become a face in the community, and build a niche for themselves and their peers to support one another in making good decisions.
 
Any student who is committed to enjoying an active role in their community, a sober middle and high school experience, and setting a positive example for their peers is a perfect candidate for HYPE! The COVID-19 pandemic called for several precautions during recent gatherings, from temperature checks to masks and limited class sizes, and similar measures will be observed as the 2020-2021 school year kicks off. However, virtual meetings and events are in the works for current HYPE students, with new members encouraged and more than welcome to join us!
 
Please email Cathy Pitalo at cpitalo@hancockhrc.org for more information on
how to become involved and what it means to #believetheHYPE!
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On Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020 the Hancock Community Coalition was one of 148 community coalitions honored during a graduation ceremony at CADCA’s (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) 30th Annual National Leadership Forum, just outside of Washington, D.C. The coalitions received a graduation certificate for completing CADCA’s National Coalition Academy, a rigorous training program designed to increase the effectiveness of community substance use and misuse prevention leaders.
 
The Hancock Community Coalition was represented by Rhonda Rhodes, President of Hancock Resource Center, Cathy Pitalo, Drug Free Community Project Coordinator, and Colby DiMento, Community Outreach Coordinator.
 
“It was an honor to receive this recognition and to be surrounded by so many coalition leaders from across the United States who are all working to make communities healthier and safer for our youth,” said Cathy Pitalo.
 
CADCA’s National Coalition Academy (NCA) is a comprehensive, year-long training program developed by CADCA’s National Coalition Institute. The NCA incorporates three, week-long classroom sessions, a web-based distance learning component, an online workstation where participants network and share planning products and free ongoing coalition development technical assistance. To graduate, coalitions must complete a rigorous curriculum. They must participate in all components of the NCA and complete five essential planning products that serve as the foundation of their comprehensive plan for community change.
 
CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is a four-day event packed with opportunities to learn the latest strategies to address substance use and misuse. Attendees have to opportunity to hear and learn from nationally prevention experts, federal administrators and concerned policymakers. Forum brings together approximately 3,000 attendees representing coalitions from all regions of the country and internationally, government leaders, youth, prevention specialists, addiction treatment professionals, addiction recovery advocates, researchers, educators, law enforcement professionals and faith-based leaders. It is the largest training event for the prevention field.
 
For more information about the Hancock Community Coalition and to learn how you can get involved, contact Cathy Pitalo at cpitalo@hancockhrc.org or 228-463-8887.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2019
Media Contact: Amy Marquar, Outreach Coordinator| (228) 463-8887 |amarquar@hancockhrc.org
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith discusses latest strategies to fight substance abuse with DFC Program Director and DFC Project Coordinator at CADCA’s National Leadership Forum in Maryland
Rhonda Rhodes, DFC Program Director and Cathy Pitalo, DFC Project Coordinator attended CADCA’s National Leadership Forum in National Harbor, Maryland February 4th-8th. This was a four day conference packed with multiple adult and youth-oriented opportunities to learn the latest strategies to fight substance abuse and hear from nationally-known experts and policymakers. A full day was dedicated to Capitol Hill events where forum participants were given the opportunity to educate policymakers in Congress about the importance of substance use and misuse prevention. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith met with Ms. Rhodes and Ms. Pitalo to discuss how these issues are being addressed in Hancock County.
For more information or to make a donation to HYPE, contact Cathy Pitalo at (228)463-8887 or email toHYPE@hancockhrc.org.  You can also learn more about HYPE atwww.believethehypehancock.org .