The Rice County Chemical and Mental Health Coalition has recognized three individuals and one group as 2024 Prevention Champions. They are: Toby Anderson, Recovery Care Coordinator with HealthFinders Collaborative; John Sherwin, Chief of Police for the City of Faribault; Eric Swan McDonald, Science Teacher at the Northfield Public Schools Area Learning Center (ALC); and the Recovery Staff at the Community Action Center.
The recipients were recognized for their significant contributions in reducing risk factors for alcohol and drug abuse, supporting recovery, promoting mental health and well- being, and/or building assets for our youth and other community members.
Toby Anderson tirelessly serves Northfield youth who are dealing with chemical dependency, said Kelli Podracky, director of the Northfield Union of Youth, also known as the Key.
“I am so grateful to have him as a community partner, working alongside him with several cases, leaning on and learning from his expertise,” she said.
John Sherwin has championed the Police Assisted Recovery and Deflection (PARD) program for the last several years and was instrumental in launching the program in 2023, said Northfield Police Chief Mark Elliott.
“John has pushed the program within his own organization and community and has been highly engaged on statewide and national efforts of police-led recovery. He has attended numerous meetings and talked with countless stakeholders to ensure program support,” Elliott said. “He has also spoken at regional conferences encouraging other communities to look at creating partnerships to assist in addressing Substance Use Disorder and has spread the word on how we did it here in Rice County, and how others can follow.”
Eric Swan McDonald led a weekly class called Youth Connect that provided a safe space for students to discuss chemical health related issues, said Jenn Toth, school social worker at the ALC. “He does an amazing job of fostering a safe and trusting environment for the students at the Area Learning Center,” Toth said.
The Recovery Staff at the Community Action Center was recognized for addressing the needs of participants in supporting them through mental health and chemical use struggles.
Ashley Gardner, HCI’s Network Impact Coordinator for the Rice County Chemical and Mental Health Coalition, said the recovery staff members have made a huge difference in people’s lives by meeting them where they are and by finding creative ways to provide them with the support they need.
The awards were presented in late April and early May in celebration of this year's National Prevention Week, May 12-18.
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