Dubois County CARES Welcomes Candy Neal
Dubois Co. - Dubois County CARES welcomes Candy Neal as its Drug-Free
Communities grant coalition manager.
Prior to coming to Indiana, Candy worked at newspapers in St. Louis. She has a bachelor’s degree in Communications/Journalism from St. Louis University.
The mission of Dubois County CARES (Coalition for Adolescent Resiliency
and Empowerment Strategies) is to empower youth to be alcohol and drug
free.
Candy is a native of St. Louis and has lived in Jasper for the last 24 years.
She has spent that entire time at the Dubois County Herald as a reporter,
covering various parts of the county.
“Throughout my media career, I have met a lot of people all over the
county, including some amazing young people. I look forward to promoting
the valuable attributes our young people have as well as their important
role in our community,” Candy said. “I also want to show Dubois County
residents — those who are parents as well as those who aren’t — how they
can be a positive and healthy influence on our young people by example
and through support”.
Prior to coming to Indiana, Candy worked at newspapers in St. Louis. She has a bachelor’s degree in Communications/Journalism from St. Louis University.
Candy is a member of Redemption Christian Church and is a discussion
leader for a Bible Study Fellowship group that meets weekly at Shiloh
Church. She also organized an annual Valentine dinner for widows and
widowers in Dubois County prior to the COVID pandemic.
She likes to listen to music, read, scrapbook and make cards, hang out with
friends and visit her family in St. Louis, especially her mother, Josephine
Neal.
“The Dubois County CARES coalition is thankful to have Candy join us,”
said Megan Durlauf, chairperson of the coalition’s executive board. “Her
relational personality, expertise and community connection will be assets in
helping propel youth resiliency and empowerment strategies.”
Dubois County CARES works toward its mission of empowering youth to
be alcohol and drug free by:
* Educating the community on the detriments of youth substance use
* Educating adults on the detriments of providing alcohol to youth
* Providing skills building and encouragement for parents and guardians to
talk with youth about substance use
* Collaborating with and supporting partner agencies
* Working with local lawmakers to create and sustain a community that
does not tolerate underage drinking and drug use.
Dubois County CARES received a Drug-Free Communities grant from
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) in
2017, guaranteeing the organization $125,000 annually for five years, with
a possible renewal for an additional five years. TRI-CAP is the fiscal agent
for Dubois County CARES.
“The youth in our community look to their adults as role models,” Candy
said. “We want adults to understand that using alcohol or drugs excessively
has a negative impact on others, especially on the children watching them.
And we all want to be positive role models for our youth. I want to work
through Dubois County CARES to drive that message home, for our
children’s sake.”