On Thursday, January 9th, all the Buffalo County 5th and 6th grade students from Alma, Cochrane-Fountain City, Gilmanton, and Mondovi School Districts will be participating in a workshop on making positive choices, mental health, and vaping prevention. Carl Olson will be the featured speaker and facilitator of the workshop. Mr. Olson, who is an engaging magician, has spoken to thousands of students throughout the nation about leadership and coping skills. The program also includes a visit from the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department drug investigation dog, Sitka, and his partner, Deputy Olson. Students will also hear from Buffalo County Public Health Educator, Dyllan Smith, or participate in the Escape the Vape challenge. The topics of positive peer relationships and vaping prevention were selected as target prevention areas for our 5th and 6th graders based on local research data.

The workshop is being sponsored and funded by the Buffalo County Partnership Council (BCPC).  BCPC is a local coalition made up of students, educators, law enforcement, university faculty, and public health advocates that provide collaborative prevention programming to educate youth and their families to make healthy choices and positively influence people and policies.