By Andy Bell-Baltaci - updated 10/24/19 2:27 PMA local coalition wants to connect high school students from across the county who want to keep their peers away from alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
Empower Johnson County, which started in 2015, is on a mission to stop youth substance abuse. The organization wants to create a new coalition of students from the six Johnson County public high schools, along with private school and home-schooled students who are interested in promoting a healthy lifestyle, said Miranda Broomfield, the organization’s youth coordinator.
This is the first time Empower Johnson County has started a coalition that includes students from area high schools. Federal Drug-Free Community Support Program grants give $125,000 a year to Empower Johnson County, which uses the money to pay its employees and coordinate events such as post-prom, which provides drug and alcohol-free activities for high school seniors after their prom, Broomfield said.

​Keep reading...

By Andy Bell-Baltaci - 10/3/19 2:24 AM
Every time a student vapes a cartridge from an electronic cigarette, they intake the nicotine content of a pack of cigarettes.
That information was part of a community presentation at Center Grove High School on Tuesday, as people gathered to learn about the dangers of electronic cigarettes, commonly known as e-cigarettes, and nicotine vaporizers, commonly known as vapes. Students can use those vapes to inhale tobacco, alcohol or marijuana.
Read more from the Daily Journal here:
​ http://www.dailyjournal.net/2019/10/03/center_grove_event_warns_parents_about_dangers_of_vaping/

By Staff Reports -  
9/6/17 11:36 PM
Empower Johnson County is having a breakfast and celebration later this month.

The organization is formed by local leaders and was awarded a multi-year grant to fund youth drug abuse prevention efforts.

The celebration is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Sept. 20 at To The Nines Restaurant at Central Nine Career Center, 1999 U.S. 31 South, Greenwood.

RSVPs to the event are due Friday and can be made by e-mailing Empowerjohnsoncounty@gmail.com.

A sponsorship is $20.

​http://www.dailyjournal.net/2017/09/07/empower-johnson-county-brief/

Daily Journal, September 19, 2016, 
​Jacob Tellers

​Most drug prevention programs focus on the consequences of drug abuse: addiction, health problems, jail time.

Local police and educators want to tell another side of the story by connecting students with positive peer role models and showing examples of people who have made the right choices.

Empower Johnson County, a coalition formed by local leaders, was awarded a five-year, $625,000 Drug-Free Communities grant from the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The organization was one of three in Indiana to get the award. Nearly $86 million in grants were given out nationwide to fund drug abuse prevention and treatment programs.

“Our youth hear about kids who get into trouble for drugs, but how often do they hear about kids doing the right things?” Empower Johnson County Director Michelle McMahon said.