Nichols Center 2025 Mid-Year Impact Report

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The Nichols Center has made significant progress in 2025 toward its mission of promoting mental health awareness, crisis response education, and opioid prevention. Through a combination of training sessions, community outreach, and resource distribution, we have reached thousands of individuals across Douglas, Cobb, Paulding, and Cherokee counties. Below is a summary of our key accomplishments and their impact.

 

Overdose Reversal Kits Distribution As part of our State Opioid Response (SOR) efforts:

• 173 opioid overdose kits were distributed to crisis response workers in Douglas, Cobb, Paulding, and Cherokee counties.

• These kits are critical tools for life-saving interventions in opioid-related emergencies.

Crisis Response Collaborative (C3R) Trainings Monthly collaborative workgroup sessions were conducted to address crisis response gaps and implement strategic solutions.

• 12 trainings conducted (in-person and virtual).

• 35 workgroup/training sessions completed to date.

• 650 individuals reached, including community stakeholders, first responders, and key response groups.

• Pre- and post-training evaluations were developed to measure impact.

• Community engagement plans were tailored for each county to address opioid risk factors.

Community Training Presentations Educational presentations focused on:

• Narcan use and overdose response.

• Harm reduction strategies.

• Good Samaritan Laws.

• G-Cal and 988 mental health resources.

• Drug disposal and prescription responsibility.

• Estimated reach of over 500 individuals trained in 2025, including public safety personnel, churches, parks and recreation staff, and other non-traditional groups.

Educational Materials Development & Distribution We developed and distributed materials to raise awareness about opioid prevention and intervention services:

• Presentations, handouts, posters, and other educational tools were created for community use.

• Focused distribution included first responders, law enforcement, public safety groups, and community organizations.

• Over 100,000 individuals reached through newsletters, resource fairs, wellness events, senior fairs, and online platforms.

Law Enforcement & First Responder Trainings Quarterly trainings were conducted to equip first responders with essential crisis response skills:

• 3 crisis debriefing training sessions held for Powder Springs Police Department (25 officers trained).

• Focus areas included crisis intervention techniques, mental health awareness for first responders, stress management strategies, and post-incident debriefing methods.

• Enhanced crisis response capabilities for law enforcement teams.

• Strengthened community-police relations through improved mental health understanding.

Drug Disposal Planning & Opioid Crisis Response Initiatives Efforts to increase safe drug disposal practices included:

• Distribution of over 2,500 drug disposal take-home packets, lock boxes, and educational materials.

• More than 25,000 individuals educated on safe prescription practices in 2025.

Annual Educational Summit The Nichols Center successfully hosted its 2nd Annual Educational Summit, bringing together community members, first responders, and key stakeholders to advance mental health awareness, crisis response education, and resource accessibility. This impactful event underscored our ongoing commitment to addressing the opioid crisis and supporting mental health initiatives across Douglas County and beyond. 

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Training topics include opioid crisis awareness, harm reduction strategies, suicide prevention, Narcan use, Good Samaritan Laws, 988 resources, G-Cal services, and more. Continuing Education Credits (POST/EMS) will be offered to participants.

 

71 participants, including first responders, public safety officials, healthcare professionals, and community leaders. The summit provided a collaborative platform for diverse groups to engage in meaningful discussions about crisis response and mental health solutions.

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Total Training Hours: 9 hours of specialized crisis response education.

Training sessions covered critical topics such as:

• Opioid crisis intervention techniques.

• Narcan administration and overdose prevention strategies.

• Suicide prevention and harm reduction approaches.

• Mental Health First Aid tailored for first responders.

 

Live Healthy Douglas Resource Fair

The resource fair featured a variety of local organizations, including Cobb Douglas Behavioral Health, offering attendees access to mental health resources, educational materials, and wellness services. Participants had the opportunity to connect with service providers and learn about available community support programs.

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Our Impact

Enhanced Crisis Response Capabilities: Participants gained critical skills in crisis intervention and mental health awareness, improving their ability to respond effectively to emergencies in their communities.

 

Strengthened Community Collaboration: The summit fostered stronger partnerships among stakeholders from Douglas County and surrounding areas, creating a unified approach to addressing the opioid epidemic and mental health challenges.

 

Increased Resource Accessibility: The Live Healthy Douglas Resource Fair connected attendees with essential tools and services to support ongoing wellness efforts.

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Community Resources Highlighted: Multiple local organizations participated in the resource fair, expanding access to vital support systems.

 

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The Nichols Center’s 2nd Annual Educational Summit exemplifies our dedication to empowering communities through education, collaboration, and resource sharing. By equipping individuals with the knowledge and tools needed for effective crisis response and mental health advocacy, we are fostering a safer, healthier future for all.

 

Community Engagement Highlights

1. C3R Douglas Training (Jan 8) – 15 attendees.

2. PPPP Training (Jan 17) – 18 participants trained in crisis response techniques.

3. MLK Mental Health Event (Jan 20) – Engaged with an impressive 627 attendees to raise mental health awareness during this significant community event.

4. C3R Cobb Training (Jan 24) – 16 attendees participated in collaborative training sessions.

5. C3R Douglas Training (Feb) – 17 attendees engaged in strategic workgroup sessions.

6. KSU Engagement Fair (Feb 11) – Reached over 250 participants with mental health resources.

7. CORE Event (Feb 11) – Engaged with 31 community members.

8. Planet Fitness Vendor Booth (Feb 11) – Connected with 70 attendees.

9. PPPP Training (Feb 20) – Delivered training to 8 participants.

10. Youth Council Powder Springs (Feb 25) – Reached out to 10 youth participants.

11. C3R Cobb Training (Feb 28) – Engaged with an additional 9 participants.

 

Looking Ahead

The Nichols Center remains committed to meeting its SOR Grant objectives by continuing to provide life-saving resources such as Narcan kits while expanding its reach through innovative programming like the Annual Educational Summit and ongoing law enforcement trainings.

By fostering partnerships with key stakeholders and engaging communities across Georgia counties, we are building a foundation for lasting change in the fight against the opioid epidemic while promoting mental health awareness for all individuals we serve.