stand Advisor of the Year for Central Ohio

Cindy Douds, OCPS II, prevention educator for Recovery & Prevention Resources of Delaware and Morrow Counties (RPR), has been named stand Advisor of the Year for Central Ohio by the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation.

The Advisor of the Year distinction is presented to a stand Team advisor in recognition of his or her dedication to teaching youth to take a stand against tobacco and become activists in their communities.

“Cindy is a leader in the fight against tobacco, and her passion for working with youth is unmatched,” said Tony Williams, LICDC, chief executive officer of RPR. “She approaches her role as a stand Team advisor with enthusiasm and creativity, and she is truly deserving of this award.”

A program of the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation, stand is a tobacco counter-marketing campaign that includes broadcast and print advertising, public relations and interactive and community-based activities to reach and empower Ohioans to take a stand against tobacco.

As part of the campaign to reach youth, stand Teams formed across the state to drive grassroots movements into their communities with local team meetings, recruitment events, community outreach and regional summits. These youth-led groups are guided by adult advisors, like Douds. Douds oversees the Morrow County stand Team, specifically coordinating the Cardington and Highland teams.

“What started with a short assembly at one of the local schools about the program resulted in 175 students joining stand,” said Douds. “I love working with the kids, and especially watching them come up with small ideas that other Team members build on, resulting in something really great.”

At RPR, Douds is involved in the development and facilitation of prevention programs in Morrow County. In addition to her role as stand advisor, she facilitates other prevention programs, including Life Skills Training, Leadership Retreat and other initiatives targeting tobacco use.

Douds recently passed the prevention certification examination and is now an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist II (OCPS II), the highest certification available to prevention professionals.