WestCare's Annual Trunk-or-Treat

Extension's Hope and Recovery Team had the privilege of participating in WestCare's Annual Trunk-or-Treat event at the Women’s and Children’s Campus, where over 350 community members joined us for our Inside Out Themed interactive mental health learning game. The game focused on identifying emotions and practicing emotional regulation. The team also came up with a take-home activity for children to be able to discuss their feelings with parents to help identify and strengthen their social emotional development. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear were all there to greet community members, many of whom have connected with our team before through incarceration support, recovery programs, trainings, community events, or the Mom and Me Camp. We heard things like, “Hey it's the HSF girls!” The team, in addition to their many daily responsibilities, made this large effort to assure that events like these are powerful reminders of why community engagement matters. They help us build trust, foster connection, and bring our recovery work full circle. We’re honored to hold this space for healing, learning, and togetherness. 

Narcan Training

On Sept. 8, 2025, our Hope Coordinator, Charel Elwell completed the certification to teach the Naloxone Overdose Prevention Training. This means that Elwell is now qualified to teach this vital training, equipping not only the Hope and Recovery teams, but also any other community members with the essential knowledge and skills to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose. This certification greatly enhances Extension’s capacity to promote public health and safety in our own community. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Hope team if you or your agency are interested in taking this training to learn how to save a life and help the opioid epidemic.

13th Annual Healthy Kids Festival 

The Hope and Recovery team took part in the 13th Annual Healthy Kids Festival at the East Las Vegas Community Center. Our team operated the Body Mass Index (BMI) station, providing height and weight measurements while engaging with parents about practical ways to encourage healthy habits and active lifestyles within their families.

Throughout the event, we connected with 86 youth, sharing resources and information to support overall wellness and family engagement in health-focused activities.

The Meadows Training

The Hope and Recovery team recently participated in the Mounjaro, Mushrooms, and Magnets: Can Any of Them Fix Addiction? event, hosted by Meadows Behavioral Health Center. The session featured Meadows Senior Fellow Kevin McCauley, MD, MPH, who provided valuable insights into the various categories of addictive substances and emerging treatment perspectives.

Our team had the opportunity to host an information table, connect with attendees, and share details about the Hope and Recovery Teams’ programs and services. The event offered an excellent opportunity to engage with professionals and community members dedicated to advancing addiction recovery efforts.

Embracing Life as Women Conference

The Hope and Recovery Teams were fortunate enough to attend CARE Coalition’s Annual Embracing Life As Women Conference on Sept. 5. The teams had the opportunity to have an information table during the networking hour to promote the 40-hour Hope Advocate Training. They were able to network with several other agencies within the domestic violence, recovery, and mental health fields.

The Embracing Life As Women Conference offered an inspiring afternoon of learning, connection, and empowerment. Community members came together to engage in meaningful discussions about women in recovery, including two keynote speakers who delivered educational and encouraging information for all in attendance.