Laura Miksch

Responsibilities

Attending coalition meetings for the 21 county region of the Community Partnership of the Ozarks (CPO). Assisting with implementing drug prevention projects. Developing presentations and newsletters for dissemination. Assisting with coordinating community events and trainings. Assisting with any other prevention needs that arise.

Accomplishments

My greatest accomplishment was working with roughly 15 youth from the region (Kansas City and Springfield) on the topic of substance abuse prevention specifically in youth. The name of the training was titled 'Youth Leadership Training'. This three day training (youth were provided with room and board), consisted of national substance abuse prevention trainers for youth. Part of the training included youth talking about substance abuse issues in their own communities and what they are seeing. The youth actually developed a logic model to prevent abuse and each youth took this youth created logic model back to their own community stakeholders for possible implementation. By end of this training they left with the knowledge and courage on how to make their communities healthier by decreasing substance use.

What advice would you give?

Everything is about building relationships in life. When agencies partner with other agencies it's an opportunity to pool their resources to make a bigger impact on community health. The CPO internship was a great opportunity to promote health and build relationships.