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SAFE COMMUNITIES

news and updates

Person driving in a car

Traffic Crashes Down, Fatalities Up in 2022

For Immediate Release For more information, contact: Cheryl Wittke, Executive Director, Safe Communities of Madison – Dane County,  (608) 256-6713 Traffic Crashes Down, Fatalities Up in 2022  Forty-four persons lost
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In treatment instead of in jail. Local initiative aims to help people fighting addiction

This article originally appeared on Fox47.com and can be found here. By Brady Mallory  |  Fox47 News Madison MAIDSON, Wis (Fox47) — Imagine a dinner table with an empty chair.
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Dane County Approves $750,000 Emergency Initiative to Address Opiate & Fentanyl Epidemics

From the Office of Joe Parisi, Dane County Executive, November 18, 2022 The Harm Reduction and Prevention Act, a roughly $750,000 initiative to address opiate and fentanyl related emergencies, will
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Two-thirds of Dane County Fatal Crashes Involve No Seatbelts or Helmets

For Immediate Release For more information, contact: Cheryl Wittke, (608) 256-6713 Executive Director, Safe Communities of Madison – Dane County Two-thirds of Dane County Fatal Crashes Involve No Seatbelts or
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SSM Health’s ED2Recovery program faces rising overdoses due to Fentanyl

This article originally appeared on NBC15.com and can be found here. Colton Molesky | WMTV-Madison MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – An SSM Health St. Mary’s program is continuing to battle addiction
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September 27 “Only Leaves Should Fall” Mini Events

If you are concerned about falling or have fallen in the past, please join us on Tuesday, September 27 at the Triangle Community Ministry or Mt. Zion Baptist Church to
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Drunken driving crashes spike in Dane County; at least 11 killed in first half of 2022

This article originally appeared on Madison.com and can be found here. Chris Hubbuch | Wisconsin State Journal Drunken driving crashes — including at least 11 fatalities — rose sharply during
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Dane County Sees 41% Increase in Car Crashes Related to Alcohol Use

This article originally appeared in the Capital Times and can be found here. By Allison Garfield Dane County has seen a 41% increase in the number of car crashes related
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Unique Steppin’ – Improve your dance moves AND your balance!

Join us on Saturdays from 1-3pm starting August 20 as Safe Communities and Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) collaborate to offer Unique Steppin’ to improve balance AND dance moves.
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Settlement Funds Will Support Plan Against Opioid Epidemic

This story originally appeared on www.NBC15.com. MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – This year, the Department of Health Services expects to get nearly $31 million for the task to fight Wisconsin’s opioid
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Ending African American Deaths from Despair Opening Remarks

AAOC Ending African American Deaths from Despair – Joe Parisi, Dane County Executive, Webinar Series Opening Remarks Friday, June 5, 2020 “Words cannot express my sorrow at this heartbreaking moment
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Purple Lights for Recovery

Show your support for those in recovery by participating in September’s events and lighting your business, organization or home in purple lights. When you do, you’ll be joining others who
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September is National Recovery Month

September is National Recovery Month In honor of those we’ve lost, National Recovery Month is meant to find hope in the reality that recovery from substance use and mental health
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Peers in the Park

Peers in the Park Events Struggling with addiction and looking for help and support? Join us if you’d like to talk to a recovery coach, learn about resources available to
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Ending Deaths from Despair Webinar Series

Upcoming Webinars Hosted by Ending Deaths from Despair Task Force  We’re planning our 2023 schedule. Please email us with topics you would like to see covered. Past Webinars You can watch
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How do you know which exercises or activities improve balance?

By Ashley Hillman, Safe Communities’ Falls Prevention Program Manager Did you know that there are certain types of exercise that are better for enhancing balance? Walking is great aerobic exercise
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Elderly man and woman participating in yoga

Local Home Safety Resources

Home Safety Resources: Safety Checklist from the CDC (PDF) SSM Health Medical Equipment 4639 Hammersley Road Madison, WI 53711 (800) 924-2273 https://www.homehealthunited.org/home-medical-equipment All our retail stores have an extensive supply
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Deadly Crashes Rising in Dane County

Oringinal article by Allison Garfield Original Article can be found here: Deadly Crashes Rise Dane County saw an unprecedentedly high number of fatal crashes in 2021 caused by both speeding
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Black man upset holding head in hands

Recent Surge in U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths has Hit Black Men the Hardest

Oringinal article by John Gramlich Original Article can be found here: Recent surge in U.S. drug overdose deaths has hit Black men the hardest Nearly 92,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in
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Person in winter boots walking on snowy street

Beauty and the Beast: Winter in WI – Tips for Preventing a Fall this Winter

Lately as we look out of our windows, we see the beauty of winter: glistening trees covered in ice and a white blanket of snow covering what was once green.
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Zero deaths in wisconsin

2021 Brings Record Number of Traffic Fatalities for Dane County

The number of traffic fatalities this year in Dane County already has exceeded the total for all of 2020, according to officials from the Dane County Traffic Safety Commission (TSC).
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End overdose images

#EndOverdose: Advocates Bring Awareness to Dane County’s Ongoing Opioid Overdose Epidemic

This article by Maggie Ginsberg originally appeared in the December 2021 Edition of Madison Magazine. To view the original article, click here. Even as the crisis worsens in Dane County
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Elder black man stretching in park

Fall Prevention Classes: High Risk

Referral to Physical Therapy You may want to consider a physical therapist, preferably one with special training on older adult falls. Many physical therapists are trained to find out why
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Elderly Women sitting and doing physical therapy activities with rubber rings

Fall Prevention Classes: Medium Risk

Stepping On™ Stepping On is an evidence-based workshop meeting once per week for seven weeks, two hours per week, with a reunion class three months later. The class is led
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RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE

Treatment Key

Safe communities has complied a list of abbreviation definitions for finding the right treatment for you.

MAT: Medication for Addiction Treatment.
OP: Outpatient Treatment – person lives at home or in the community, attends. individual and group therapy, these can include or not include MAT.
IOP: Intensive Outpatient Treatment – person lives at home or in the community, attends individual and extended groups, 9-12 hours a week.
Residential: person lives at the facility for a period of at least 14 days, some last as many as 45 days.
PHP: Partial Hospitalization Program is a structured mental health treatment program that runs for several hours each day, three to five days per week.
DBT: Dialectical behavior therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that integrates mindfulness techniques.