Celebrating 20 Years of Prevention, Partnership, and Hope in Johnson County

For twenty years, the A.C.T.I.O.N. Coalition has stood at the heart of Johnson County's efforts to keep families healthy, support young people, and strengthen the community through substance use prevention education. What began in 2006 as a small group of residents concerned about the lack of mental health resources in our small rural community, has grown into a countywide network of schools, churches, healthcare providers, law enforcement, youth leaders and local organizations working together toward one shared goal: building a safer, healthier future for every person who calls Johnson County home. Over two decades, the coalition has helped shape local substance use prevention strategies, supported youth leadership, expanded access to resources, and brought evidence-based programs into classrooms and neighborhoods. Its work has touched thousands of lives — often quietly, often behind the scenes, and always with a deep commitment to the wellbeing of families. Courtney Pleasant, prevention coordinator said "To educate the youth in my community about substance use and substance misuse and how to live a healthy lifestyle is so important." A COMMUNITY EFFORT FROM THE BEGINNING The coalition's early years focused on raising awareness about substance use risks and building partnerships strong enough to make a difference. Those partnerships have only grown. Today, the coalition collaborates closely with Johnson County Schools, Coordinated School Health, the ARRC Recovery Center, local law enforcement, the courts, healthcare providers, faith partners and many other community organizations. These relationships have allowed the coalition to respond to emerging challenges — from youth vaping to opioid misuse — while keeping prevention rooted in local strengths, local voices, and local solutions. Prevention coordinator Angel Snyder, "I value this work because it allows me to give back to my community by supporting youth in building healthy, drug-free lives." INVESTING IN YOUTH AND FAMILIES A hallmark of the coalition's work has been its commitment to young people. From MADD to DARE to our newly formed youth coalition the AYC club, school‑based prevention programs, leadership opportunities, and community events, the coalition has helped equip a generation of Johnson County youth with the tools to make healthy choices and become leaders in their own right. Families have also been a central focus. The coalition has offered parent education, community workshops, resource navigation, and trauma0informed support that help families stay connected and resilient. RESPONDING TO A CHANGING LANDSCAPE Over the past 20 years, prevention work has evolved — and so has the work of and focus of the coalition. It has expanded its focus to include mental health promotion, recovery support, through the ACTION Recovery Resource Center, stigma reduction, and rural-specific outreach along with naloxone distribution have brought resources to work for the coalition. The coalition has helped bring naloxone training to the community, supported re-entry partnerships, and strengthened pathways to treatment and long-term recovery. Brooke Bombailey, naloxone program coordinator, "Prevention reduces risks before problems start, saving time, money, and often live. Recovery ensures that when setbacks happen, people and systems can rebuild, adapt, and come back stronger." Through it all, the coalition has remained committed to transparency, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making. Its cross-sector approach has become a model for rural communities across the region. HONORING THE PAST, BUILDING THE FUTURE As the coalition celebrates its 20th anniversary, it is taking time to honor the volunteers, partners, youth, and community members who have carried this work forward. Some have been involved since the beginning; others joined along the way. All have played a role in shaping a healthier Johnson County. The anniversary year will include an Open house celebration in September, community events, partner recognition, and opportunities for residents to learn more about prevention and get involved. But the celebration is also a recommitment. The coalition's next chapter will focus on strengthening youth leadership, expanding prevention education, supporting families, and continuing to build a community where recovery is celebrated and every person has the chance to thrive. A MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY For twenty years, Johnson County has shown what is possible when neighbors come together with compassion, determination, and hope. The coalition's work belongs to the community — and its success is a reflection of the community's heart. "We are proud to have been a part of this work in our community and look forward to what the future holds" Executive Director Trish Burchette said. As the coalition looks ahead, it remains guided by the same belief that started it all: prevention is most powerful when it is shared. In 2022 ACTION Coalition expanded its services to include not only prevention education but treatment options and recovery support to residents of Johnson and Carter Counties. Region 1N Hybrid Lifeline coordinator, Jennifer Street has been working with the treatment community to ensure seamless support for those in need of short term, long term and immediate treatment options, together with 10 other coordinators across the state she helps to locate and provide transportation for those in need of treatment for a substance use disorder. "Prevention and recovery share the same goal: saving lives and building healthier communities. Recovery brings hope and healing after addiction, while prevention helps ensure fewer people ever have to walk that path. Together, they protect the future." Jennifer Street, Region 1N Hybrid Lifeline Coordinator. In addition the coalition began serving those in recovery in our community in 2022 and opened the ARRC Recovery Center in September 2024 to serve those in our community seeking long term recovery at 112 Pioneer Village Drive, lives are changed and futures are regained with the assistance of Certified Peer Recovery Support specialists, CPRS's are those who have walked the path to recovery and are in active recovery for two years. They are certified through a training and supervision process with the State of Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Alexa Owens is the program coordinator for the ARRC Recovery Center and works to develop individualized recovery support programs. "As a CPRS with ACTION Coalition/ARRC, I see every day how recovery and prevention go hand in hand. Recovery restores lives, but prevention gives us the opportunity to stop addiction before it starts—together, they are essential to building a stronger, healthier community". She, along with Buffy Cornett, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, assists those in our community as well as those who are justice involved with training classes through Moral Reconation Therapy and R1 Recovery, evidence-based programs that have proven successful in supporting recovery on an individual and group basis.