Alcohol & Drug Awareness Council of Orange County

Dear Port Jervis Community Members,

The Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council of Orange County (ADAC) is proud to be partnering with the Port Jervis City School District on an innovative new approach to substance use and mental health prevention. Through this initiative, called ADAC IMPACT (Improving Mindsets, Policies, and Communities, Together), ADAC will place highly skilled Prevention Specialists in school districts across Orange County to provide universal prevention education to all students as well as faculty and community members. The Prevention Specialists will also promote healthy living by implementing evidence-based programs and practices, presentations, disseminating information, and awareness campaigns relating to substance use and mental health. They will also facilitate a program called Teen Intervene, an internationally recognized early intervention model for youth who are at risk of or experiencing mild to moderate negative consequences from substance use. The Prevention Specialists will be embedded in the school district and become a part of the school culture, fostering relationships with students and staff alike in an effort to lower the likelihood of youth engaging in problematic substance use.

The Prevention Specialist for the Port Jervis City School District is Denise Hulse. Denise is a 1988 graduate of PJHS and graduate of Orange-Ulster BOCES. She has a life-long passion for helping youth in her community. She has been a volunteer for the Eldred school district as well as the PJCSD for many years, costuming all districts shows, for all grade levels, for ten years.  In addition, Denise was PJHS-PTSA secretary, PJHS-PTSA president, coordinator for various community fundraisers, photographer for school events, community events, and ADAC events, PJYFL cheerleading coordinator and assistant cheerleading coach, and Red Ribbon Week bow maker and volunteer for ADAC. She has received many awards for her volunteer work including Port Pride Award, ASK Performing Arts Award, and Orange Couty Citizen of the Month. Denise’s work with ADAC began as a volunteer.  Her desire to be more hands-on and have direct contact with the much needed and important work ADAC does lead her to a part-time position as Program Assistant.  She held that position for almost two years where she was the poster and essay contest coordinator working closely with sixteen school districts throughout Orange County, as well as the red ribbon week coordinator. When the IMPACT position was offered for Port Jervis, she decided to take a leap of faith and concentrate her efforts full time in her hometown. During her employment with ADAC, Denise completed and continues to complete training in the field of alcohol and drug awareness, social emotional skills, and harm reduction all with a strong focus on youth. She is highly motivated, high energy, and eager to begin her role as the new Prevention Specialist for the PJCSD. Anyone can reach out to Denise by phone, (845) 645-1109 or email, dhulse@adacinfo.com

ADAC is proud of our long-standing partnership with the Port Jervis City School District and Community, and we look forward to working together to help our youth and communities thrive. Additional questions or inquiries may be directed to our Prevention Director, MaryAlice Kovatch.

Sincerely,

MaryAlice Kovatch
Prevention Director
mkovatch@adacinfo.com
(845)673-5903 ext. 227