The MPRC Clearinghouse is perhaps the most common point of contact between the MPRC and our clients. We stock well over 300 free and low-cost print publications and about 250 videos. Last year prevention practioners across the state ordered nearly 280,000 of our print publications. So, just how are people using these publications?
Shannon Bailey, Community Health Coordinator in Dakota County Public Health, places orders with our Clearinghouse at least monthly. Bailey has used one of our more popular items, Keeping Youth Drug Free, to support National Night Out efforts in Dakota County. As part of this effort, she sent packets that included Keeping Youth Drug Free to all of the D.A.R.E. officers and Crime Prevention Specialists in each city in Dakota County.
Burmaster also enjoys the posters available through the Clearinghouse. She is active in getting these posters displayed all around Carlton County, including on grocery store bulletin boards and in libraries. Our posters are highly appreciated by others, as well. Dolly Krell, Chemical Health and Violence Prevention Coordinator in Spring Lake Park Schools, says that some of the posters are very popular. Of one particular set of posters, Krell says, "Those posters are like art. People will display them. People want them."
Krell uses many other Clearinghouse materials. For meetings of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Committee, a meeting of school and community members, she tries to have plenty of copies of Impact! on hand, as well as a supply of Drug Talk cards.
These snippets demonstrate just a few examples of how our resources are being used. With our large selection of publications, and your imagination, the possibilities are great. For more information about our Clearinghouse, or to place an order, call Dawn Olson (pictured) at 612-427-5310 or 800-247-1303 (MN) or e-mail her at mprc-order@miph.org.