In this special episode of Prevention Leaders with Dave Closson, we’re celebrating the official launch of the Tennessee Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (TADEC) and Handle With Care Guide—a groundbreaking resource designed to support professionals across education, law enforcement, healthcare, child welfare, and beyond.

Recorded shortly after its debut at the 2024 RX Summit, this episode features a heartfelt conversation with two key leaders behind the initiative: Tabatha Curtis, Tennessee Statewide DEC Coordinator, and Evangeline Watanabe, Handle With Care Coordinator.

Together, we explore how this guide was created, why it matters, and how communities can begin using it immediately to strengthen collaboration and protect vulnerable children.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Tennessee combined two national models into a unique, unified approach
• How coalitions can use the guide to assess readiness and build capacity
• Practical tools and templates included in the guide for implementation
• Lessons learned from real-world Handle With Care deployments
• How cross-sector collaboration leads to lasting impact

Resources & Links:

• Download the TADEC & Handle With Care Guide
• Visit the Tennessee Dangerous Drugs Task Force site
• Visit Tennessee Handle With Care site
• Learn more about DJC Solutions’ work in prevention: https://daveclosson.com

Have questions or want support implementing the guide?
Reach out—we’re happy to help your coalition or agency take the next step.