Rockbridge Area Community Services
Crisis Hotline: 1-855-222-2046
Serving Rockbridge and Bath County,
& the Cities of Buena Vista and Lexington.
July 30, 2024 8:30am-3:30pm
Location: 1340 Thornhill Road, Lexington, VA
Many of us don't understand teens or the world they live in. We have developed an event to help you better understand the current substance use trends, behaviors, signs and symptoms and to provide you the tools to confidently have open conversations.
Keys Points:
Gain insight into a teenagers daily life
Popular substances
What to look for and how to identify them
Possible roots of unusual behavior; attitude changes, declining grades, withdrawn/ or over-involvement
Best conversation approaches
Helping students over obstacles and build resilience
Keep the conversations going
Where & how to get help
2024 Schedule
*Please Note: Coming Soon...Program schedule, speakers, and times are subject to change
Meet the 2024 Speakers
Lauren Sisler
Lauren Sisler, an Emmy Winning ESPN Sportscaster and Mental Health Advocate, believes that "Your story is significant. Learn to love it, then do something with it." As a two-time national and regional Emmy award-winning sports broadcaster with ESPN and SEC Network, Lauren uses the power of storytelling to inspire and bring awareness to important issues.
Lauren's journey includes unexpectedly losing her parents to their concealed battle with prescription drug addiction when she was just a college freshman. Despite this devastating setback, Lauren pursued her passion for sports broadcasting and became a resilient success in the competitive field.
Lauren is a passionate advocate for addiction prevention and mental health and an expert on resilience, the power of story, inspiration, sports media & journalism, shame & courage, and addiction prevention. She teaches audiences to use the power of their own stories to rebound from tragedy with courage and resilience.
In her keynotes, Lauren takes audiences behind her life and career scenes, sharing valuable lessons on embracing one's story, overcoming shame, and finding purpose and gratitude in every circumstance. She reframes trauma, acknowledges past pain, and empowers individuals to view life through courage, confidence, and resilience.
Tiffany Eustice - VDH Northwest Region Coordinator for Tobacco Control
Tiffany Eustice serves as the Regional Coordinator of the Northwest Region. She is a certified Personal Trainer, National Board Health and Wellness Coach and Wellness Practitioner. Tiffany is originally from MN and has been in Virginia 15years. She has been a part of the Tobacco Control team for a little over two years now. Before this, she was a health coach helping people with behavior change for about 14 years. Tiffany is passionate about working in public health and helping our communities be healthier and have access to tobacco cessation resources.
Tiffany loves to spend time with her children especially playing outside with them. She enjoys going to church on Sunday with her family and being active by going to the YMCA or taking her dog Marley for a walk.
Justin Wood - DEA Diversion Program Manager
Justin Wood has 20 years of experience in law enforcement and regulatory compliance, with a focus on drug diversion investigations. He joined the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 2004 and worked in different roles in Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, and DEA Headquarters.
Throughout his career, he has been involved and leads teams conducting criminal, civil, and administrative cases, and numerous Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigations. He has completed training in drug diversion, pharmacy thefts and prescription fraud, basic telephone and internet exploitation, interview and interrogation tactics, and leadership.
In 2018, he was promoted to the position of Diversion Program Manager for the DEA Washington Division, where he oversees diversion operations for the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. DPM Wood is leading his team to help prevent diversion, drug overdoses, and poisonings by ensuring that healthcare professionals follow the laws and regulations related to controlled substances in the United States.
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Geoff Cox - Lead Trainer for Practitioner Certificate Training
Geoff is a lead trainer for the Practitioner Certificate Training offered by Trauma and Somatics, an organization focused on training leaders, educators, and community change makers in trauma-informed practices and skills. Geoff has taught about emotional resilience and leadership at the University of Virginia for the past eight years. He currently leads workshops and retreats about trauma-informed mindfulness, conflict transformation, and emotional resilience around the country as well as locally for UVA students, faculty, and staff. Geoff has a private practice supporting individuals, couples, and organizations with emotional resilience, conflict transformation, trauma resolution, and leadership.
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Students in Rockbridge Promoting Healthy Alternatives (SiRPHA)
Students in Rockbridge Promoting Healthy Alternatives (SiRPHA) is out local youth coalition comprised of students from Parry McCluer an Rockbridge County High Schools. SiRPHA youth work together to help increase healthy alternative opportunities for youth in the Rockbridge area while decreasing risky behaviors.
Holly Ostby - Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital
Bio coming soon.
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Rockbridge County Sheriff's Office- Hidden in Plain Sight
This interactive display will be led by the Rockbridge County Sheriff's Office. The room will be set up to represent a teenager’s bedroom and hidden in the "demo bedroom" are items that could indicate a young person might be involved in risky activities. Through the Hidden in Plain Sight initiative, parents and other caring adults can learn how to spot warning signs and get tips for communicating with their teens.