PPN Updates: Youth boards tackle substance use, mental health & autism awareness.

The UAB Pediatric Pandemic Network (PPN) Hub’s ninth Adolescent Medicine Youth Advisory Board (YAB) met recently in Wilcox County. Ashlynn James of Selma A.I.R. led an informative presentation on substance use and harm reduction, highlighting the misuse of substances, the definition of harm reduction, and the four pillars approach to drug addiction. The meeting also included a discussion on measles.

On Thursday, April 3, the Central Alabama Youth Advisory Board welcomed licensed professional counselor Jacques Austin for a conversation on emotional self-awareness and self-control. Austin, the executive director of Brother Let’s Talk, a nonprofit that works to reduce the stigma around mental health, emphasized emotional wellness among men of color.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with KultureCity to ensure deputies are Sensory Inclusive Certified, enhancing their ability to support individuals with autism and sensory needs.

Through the partnership, deputies receive specialized training and carry KultureCity sensory bags in their patrol cars. The initiative aims to improve communication and response during encounters with individuals on the autism spectrum.