Amy, Author at Compass Mark

2023 ExtraGive Raises $35,676 for Addiction Prevention

Due to the EXTRAORDINARY generosity of our community supporters, Compass Mark raised $35,767 over the 24 hours of the November 17, 2023 ExtraGive! On behalf of our Board of Directors and staff, we are so appreciative for the incredible support of not…
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Expanding Our Team

As we turn the corner from summer to fall, we welcome change in all of its forms. At work, change can encourage innovation ands new skills to a team. This week, we welcome two new employees at Compass Mark. We…
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Juvenile Justice: We Can and Must Do Better

Compass Mark focuses on youth in the criminal justice system this month because—like adults—many enter this system due to the multiple hardships they have faced, including childhood toxic stress. Young people with mental health or addiction issues—or both—have a higher…
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Toxic Stress: Difficult Childhoods Impact Body & Brain

It was the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study in 1997 that made the link between early trauma and illness later in life official. The results overwhelmingly showed that the more significant hardships a person goes through in childhood, the greater…
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Building Healthy Brains: There is Life After Trauma

As we learned in our June Mental Health Moment segment, adverse childhood experiences (ACES) can result in toxic levels of stress, which can harm our physical and mental health later in life. This month, we focus on helping children to…
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Be a Prevention Hero: Help Kids Build Healthy Brains

In every community, there are people working to prevent addiction disorders and mental health issues from happening in the first place. In Pennsylvania, advocacy for that work comes from the Commonwealth Prevention Alliance. Their message? That anyone can make a…
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Educating Students about Alcohol & Other Drugs: More Important Than Ever

The misuse of alcohol and other drugs is a major contributor to the global burden of disease. Substance use prevention programs grounded in evidence aim to stop people from misusing alcohol and drugs before they start. As Benjamin Franklin famously…
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Now is the Time: Support Student Mental Health

The mental health of young people has been negatively impacted by the stresses of modern life. Today’s youth juggle classes, extracurriculars, family & friends. They may have part-time jobs or help look after younger siblings. In addition, they are faced…
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Supporting Loved Ones with Addiction Disorders

Family and friends may acknowledge that addiction is an illness and yet try to communicate their concerns in ways that don’t end up helping the person who is drinking, using drugs, or gambling. Addiction changes the way the brain works—in…
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