WE ARE a group of community members representing: Youth, parents, schools, law enforcement, youth-serving organizations, the faith-based community, substance misuse treatment agencies, local government, healthcare, businesses, media, civic/volunteer groups.
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OUR MISSION is to create healthy communities by reducing substance misuse.
What We Do:
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Collect data on local trends of substance misuse, compare it to the existing risk and protective factors, and share the information with community partners.
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Educate community partners on risk and protective factors for substance misuse; raise awareness of the link between childhood trauma (ACEs) and the increased likelihood of substance misuse and other physical and mental health issues.
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Partner and support the County’s Municipal Alliances to further the goal of keeping youth drug-free.
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Engage youth in drug misuse prevention: hold annual Peer Leadership Conferences reaching over 400 middle and high school students, host annual Public Service Announcement contest on substance misuse and risk and protective factors; engage the active youth taskforce groups in 6 high schools.
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Educate the community on proper Rx disposal and the link between opioid Rx abuse and heroin; increase the number of permanent prescription drop boxes
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Provide Responsible Beverage Server Training for liquor licenses; technical assistance for annual We Check for 21 conference
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Promote local ordinances and policies (including schools and organizations) to deter underage drinking, Rx misuse, and marijuana misuse
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Promote cross-sector connections and increase collaboration
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Recognize and promote outstanding efforts of community partners in the field of prevention
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We follow CACDCA’s 7 strategies for Community Change:
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PROVIDING INFORMATION – Educational presentations, workshops, social media outreach.
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BUILDING SKILLS – Holding workshops or other activities to increase the skills of participants such as training or technical assistance.
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PROVIDING SUPPORT – Creating opportunities to support that encourage people to participate in activities that reduce risk or enhance protection (e.g., providing alternative activities, referrals, etc.).
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ENHANCING ACCESS/REDUCING BARRIERS – Improving systems and processes to increase the capabilities of those who wish to use those systems and services (e.g. childcare, language).
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CHANGING CONSEQUENCES (incentives/disincentives) – Increasing or decreasing the probability of a specific action or behavior that reduces risk or enhances protection by altering the consequences for performing that behavior (e.g., increasing public recognition for deserved behavior, individual and business rewards).
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PHYSICAL DESIGN – Changing the physical design or structure of the environment to reduce risk or enhance protection (e.g. signage, lighting).
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MODIFYING/CHANGING POLICY – Formal change in written procedures, by-laws, proclamations, rules, or laws with written documentation (e.g., workplace initiatives, law enforcement procedures and practices, public policy actions, and systems change within government, communities, and organizations).
Our work is guided by SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework
