Quality Behavioral Health Inc

POMEROY DFC PROGRAM

POMEROY PARTNERS FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES COALITION - THE POMEROY PARTNERS FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES COALITION IS DEDICATED TO REDUCING YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE IN GARFIELD COUNTY, WASHINGTON – A RURAL COMMUNITY WITH APPROXIMATELY 2,400 RESIDENTS. THE COALITION HAS EXISTED FOR THIRTEEN YEARS, THE PAST FIVE AS A DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES GRANTEE DESPITE THE RECENT LAPSE IN FUNDING, AND ADDRESSES THE CHALLENGES OF UNDERAGE ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA, AND TOBACCO/NICOTINE USE AMONG YOUTH. POMEROY IS A CLOSE-KNIT, TRADITION-ORIENTED COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, WE FACE CHALLENGES, INCLUDING OUR SMALL SIZE, GEOGRAPHICAL ISOLATION, AND LIMITED RESOURCES. THESE FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM OF YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE. DATA FROM THE WASHINGTON STATE HEALTHY YOUTH SURVEY SHOWS THAT 19% OF 10TH GRADERS REPORTED PAST 30-DAY ALCOHOL USE, WHICH IS DOUBLE THE WASHINGTON STATE AVERAGE. SIMILARLY, 10% OF 8TH AND 10TH GRADERS REPORTED VAPING NICOTINE IN THE PAST 30 DAYS, WHICH IS ALSO TWICE THE STATE AVERAGE. MARIJUANA USE RATES, WHILE HISTORICALLY LOWER, ARE NOW REACHING AND, IN SOME GRADES, EXCEEDING STATE AVERAGES. THESE SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES CONTRIBUTE TO ACADEMIC DISRUPTION, RISKY BEHAVIORS, AND MENTAL WELL-BEING CHALLENGES, PARTICULARLY AMONG VULNERABLE YOUTH. THE COALITION USES A COMPREHENSIVE, COMMUNITY-CENTERED APPROACH, GUIDED BY THE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK (SPF) AND THE SEVEN STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY-LEVEL CHANGE. WE HAVE TWO FULL-TIME STAFF, 22 MEMBERS REPRESENTING 12 COMMUNITY SECTORS, AND A VIBRANT YOUTH AND ACTIVE COALITION CALLED THE PIRATE PARTNERS. THE COALITION'S STRATEGIES FOCUS ON: PROVIDING INFORMATION: USING PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS (E.G., "TALK. THEY HEAR YOU."), PROJECT STICKER SHOCK, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. ENHANCING SKILLS: TRAINING COALITION MEMBERS AND YOUTH IN EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION. PROVIDING SUPPORT: CREATING SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR YOUTH THROUGH THE PIRATE PARTNERS YOUTH COALITION, WHICH OFFERS LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND PROMOTES HEALTHY CHOICES. REDUCING ACCESS: LIMITING SUBSTANCE AVAILABILITY THROUGH RETAILER COMPLIANCE CHECKS AND ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES THAT RESTRICT YOUTH ACCESS. CHANGING CONSEQUENCES: WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO IMPLEMENT CLEAR AND CONSISTENT DISCIPLINARY POLICIES. CHANGING PHYSICAL DESIGN: WORKING WITH RETAILERS TO IMPLEMENT RESPONSIBLE DISPLAY AND MARKETING PRACTICES. MODIFYING/CHANGING POLICIES: ADVOCATING FOR AND SUPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LOCAL ORDINANCES, SCHOOL POLICIES. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, REDUCED YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE, AND A HEALTHIER, SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES. OUR WORK IS GUIDED BY A MISSION TO EMPOWER YOUTH AND FAMILIES, PROMOTE MENTAL WELL-BEING, AND REDUCE SUBSTANCE USE THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES.