About Our Coalition
Learn more about our Weakley County Prevention Coalition story, our members, and the missions we serve.
Trust Worthy
We are trusted in Weakley County to give the best tools and services for our mission of being drug-free.
Experienced
Professional
We keep our organization professional by providing the community with tools, resources, events, and knowledge.
Who We Are
Our Mission
The mission of the Weakley County Prevention Coalition is to plan and implement strategies to prevent and reduce substance abuse and its consequences thereby enhancing the lives of youth and adults across Weakley County Tennessee.
Our Vision
The vision of the Weakley County Prevention Coalition is to create a safe, tobacco-free, and drug-free community by uniting individuals and groups toward a common goal.
The average age of initiation of prescription drug misuse
TN Together Survey 2018-2019
The average age of initiation for e-cigarette use
TN Together Survey 2018-2019
The average age of initiation for alcohol use
TN Together Survey 2018-2019
About Us
The Weakley County Prevention Coalition is one of only a very few original community-based prevention organizations in Tennessee, which began in the late 1980’s with the vision of the late Governor Ned Ray McWherter. The Coalition was formed in response to the alarming consequences individual communities encountered due to underage tobacco and alcohol use and the disturbing trends in marijuana and cocaine use and abuse by youth and adults. McWherter understood that by joining together community representatives were more knowledgeable as to the risk and protective factors impacting substance use issues. He also knew the state would be best served by recognizing successful efforts to reduce and/or eliminate the negative behaviors and consequences of the tobacco, alcohol, and substance abuse.
Today, the Weakley County Prevention Coalition is one of dozens of established coalitions in Tennessee, funded by state and federal grants to address tobacco, underage and binge drinking, and prescription drug misuse. WCPC also offers Lifeline Recovery services, as well as community Narcan training.
Do You Know Us?
Weakley County Prevention Coalition Board
CATHERINE JONES, WCPC CHAIR
Parental Involvement and Teacher Center Coordinator with Weakley County Schools
SUZANNE HARPER, WCPC VICE CHAIR
Director of PR/ Marketing with Twin Oaks Technology
MICHELLE THOMAS, TREASURER
Marketing Support Coordinator with SERVPRO
CHELSEA WHITE, SECRETARY
Public Health Educator with Weakley County Health Department
GARY EDDINGS, LAW ENFORCEMENT LIASON
Deputy with the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department
A WORD FROM OUR VICE CHAIR
“I truly consider WCPC to be a cornerstone organization in Weakley County in their efforts to make our community safe, healthy and drug-free. It is an amazing thing to see all 12 sectors working together for the betterment of Weakley County and the future of our youth. Whether you are in the health-care field, work with the school system, or are a concerned parent – every single person in WCPC brings something essential to the table. We hope you consider WCPC to be a community resource, and also a much greater cause to be a part of. All are welcome!”
SUZANNE HARPER
A WORD FROM OUR secretary
“I am so proud to be apart of an organization that’s always innovating. Watching the leadership adapt to the ‘new normal’ brought about by Covid-19 restrictions has been absolutely inspiring. I have the opportunity to work with counterparts from the nineteen rural counties in West Tennessee, and the Weakley County Prevention Coalition consistently receives praise for their accomplishments region, state, and nation wide.“
chelsea white
Who We Are
Meet the Faces of WCPC
Now that you know more about us, it’s time to meet us! Meet the faces of your Weakley County Prevention Coalition and get to know more about us and why we love serving our Weakley community.
Courtney Echols
CPSII, WCPC Director
Courtney, a Jackson TN native, graduated from the Universtiy of Tennessee at Martin in 2014 with a Beachelor’s of Science in Sociology. She served as the WCPC Program Coordinatior from 2015-2018 before assuming the role of director. Her top priorities within the coaltion are overseeing the Weakley County Youth Coalition and their youth funtions and events. She also is a certified Responsible Beverage Service instructor and graduate of CADCA Academy. She lives in Martin TN with her husband and their two children. She serves on a variety of civic and volunteer groups and has a passion for serving others and making the community a safer place.
Chris Smith
WCPC Coalition Lifeline Coordinator
Chris is the new Lifeline Peer Coordinator for Region 6 North. He comes to us from the Place of Hope in Columbia, TN, where he was part of the Recovery Support staff. He is involved in Jail Ministry for several counties, a certified Recovery Coach, and currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. He resides in Huntingdon, TN, with his wife and has 11 children. Chris is focused on reducing the stigma related to the disease of addiction and increasing community support for policies that provide for treatment and recovery services. Chris himself, has several years of sobriety and he enjoys sharing his story in hopes that it will inspire someone to change their life.
Cannon Brawley
WCPC Youth Engagement Coordinator
Cannon Brawley is from Martin TN and a graduate from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2019 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Health and Human Performance, a concentration in Public Health, and a minor in Biology. His top priorities within the coalition are overseeing the Weakley County Youth Coalition as well as youth functions and events. He is very family oriented and loves engaging with the youth in his community. He is always looking for ways to help others and get involved within the community. Cannon is committed to providing services and resources to anyone in need.
Melesa Lassiter
BSN, RN, Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist
Melesa Lassiter is a Dresden TN native, graduating from Bethel University with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. She completed the necessary testing to obtain licensure as a Registered Nurse. She has been with the Weakley County Prevention Coalition since September of 2017 as the Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist (ROPS) of Region 6 North covering all off North-West Tennessee. Her goal as a ROPS of northwest Tennessee is to educate the public, medical community, law enforcement, and first responders on the opioid epidemic. She currently trains and equips individuals with the life saving drug Narcan (naloxone).
Aimee Bilger
WCPC Community Engagement Coordinator
Aimee Bilger comes to us from Jackson State Community College. She is a graduate of The University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science in Communications and a minor in Political Science. She is married and has two children. While being committed to being an effective team member, she is also committed to helping decrease the use and misuse of alcohol and prescription medications by youth and adults 12 years and up. She also wants to strengthen the coalition’s current prevention capacity and infrastructure at the community level through training and strategic planning.
Madelynn Ross
Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist
Madelynn Ross is originally from Jackson but recently purchased a home in Huntingdon, Tn. to be closer to family. Madelynn’s son-in-law Jonathan Kee is the Principal of Huntingdon High School, and Daughter Heather works for Huntingdon Primary School. They have three beautiful children. Madelynn comes to us from A Mother’s Love, a treatment program in Humboldt, Tn. that is designed to treat pregnant women with substance use disorder.
Madelynn is a person with lived experience and recovery from substance use disorder and has made it her mission to help others who struggle with addiction issues.