Youth Empowerment Source Inc

DRUG FREE CECIL - NORTH EAST, MARYLAND

STOP ACT GRANT PROJECT - UNDERAGE DRINKING CAN BE REDUCED BY THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES AND THROUGH THE USE OF THE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK. THESE IMPACTS IN COMMUNITIES ARE FURTHER ENHANCED WHEN RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO ORGANIZATIONS SPECIALIZING IN YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE REDUCTION, SUCH AS YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SOURCE (YES) AND DRUG FREE CECIL YOUTH COALITION (DFCYC). THE YES COALITION IS IN YEAR 3 OF ITS DFC FUNDING AND ALTHOUGH IT FOCUSES ON THE 21901 ZIP CODE, OUR APPLICATION FOR THE STOP ACT FUNDING WILL ALLOW US TO EXPAND ACTIVITIES TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY. THERE ARE SEVERAL INITIATIVES PLANNED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, AT VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT. THE STOP ACT GRANT WILL ENHANCE THESE EFFORTS BY PROVIDING CRITICALLY NEEDED RESOURCES TO ASSIST WITH FUNDING THE YOUTH ADVISOR, WHO COORDINATES ALL ACTIVITIES, EVENTS AND CLUBS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, AND BY ALLOWING US THE RESOURCES TO SCALE UP INITIATIVES WHICH WE HAVE PILOTED BUT NOT FULLY IMPLEMENTED. OUR DFC AWARD HAS ALLOWED US TO BEGIN THESE EFFORTS IN A VERY LIMITED CAPACITY, BUT THE STOP ACT GRANT WOULD ALLOW US TO EXPAND PROM PROMISE TO ALL SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT, IMPLEMENT AN UNDERAGE DRINKING SPECIFIC MEDIA CAMPAIGN, AND PROVIDE RESPONSIBLE BEVERAGE SERVICE TRAINING FREE OF CHARGE. WE WILL ADD AN EVIDENCE BASED LESSON ON UNDERAGE DRINKING TO OUR ANNUAL YOUTH SUMMIT, INCLUDE EVIDENCE BASED LESSONS IN OUR SCHOOL PREVENTION CLUBS AND HAVE A YOUTH PRESENTATION ON UNDERAGE DRINKING AT OUR ANNUAL YOUTH RALLY.

THE NORTH EAST YES DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES COALITION - THE NORTH EAST YES DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES COALITION PROPOSES TO INCREASE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND REDUCE YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE IN NORTH EAST, MD. THE TWO PRIMARY SUBSTANCES USED BY YOUTH IN NORTH EAST ARE TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL. THE NEED FOR ENHANCED EFFORTS IN THESE AREAS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGH BOTH QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA. SOME OF THE ISSUES SURROUNDING THESE CHALLENGES INCLUDE LOW PERCEPTION OF RISK OF HARM, AND COMMUNITY NORMS SURROUNDING YOUTH ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, A LACK OF COMPLIANCE CHECKS IN COMMUNITY LIQUOR STORES, LIMITED RETAILER EDUCATION, ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND A LACK OF RESOURCES TO EQUIP YOUTH WITH LEADERSHIP AND EMPOWERMENT TRAINING. THE FOCUS POPULATION FOR THIS GRANT WILL BE YOUTH AGES 12-18, OF ALL RACIAL BACKGROUNDS. YOUTH IN THE FOCUS POPULATION WILL BE OFFERED OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL-BASED PREVENTION CLUBS (ALREADY ESTABLISHED AT NORTH EAST HIGH SCHOOL AND RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL, WITH DEVELOPMENT UNDERWAY FOR NORTH EAST MIDDLE), IN AN ANNUAL YOUTH PREVENTION RALLY, AND IN AN ANNUAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT (HELD IN NORTH EAST). OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: TOBACCO OBJECTIVE 1: BY JUNE 30, 2027, DECREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO HAVE USED ANY TOBACCO/NICOTINE BY 1% FROM 24.5% TO 24% AS MEASURED BY THE YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY (YRBS). OBJECTIVE 2: BY JUNE 30, 2027, MAINTAIN RECENT COMPLIANCE FAILURE RATE AT LESS THAN 8% (10 FAILURES IN 130), AS MEASURED BY TOBACCO TASK FORCE COMPLIANCE DATA. OBJECTIVE 3: BY JUNE 30, 2027, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING REFUSAL SKILLS TRAINING BY 10%, FROM 1500 IN 2024 TO 1650 IN 2027. ALCOHOL OBJECTIVE 4: BY JUNE 30, 2027, REDUCE THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO STRONGLY AGREE/AGREE THAT ALCOHOL MAKES IT EASIER TO COPE WITH STRESS, BY 3% FROM 43.13% (2020 MARYLAND YOUNG ADULT SURVEY ON ALCOHOL, MYSA) TO 40%. OBJECTIVE 5: BY JUNE 30, 2027, REDUCE BY 2% THE NUMBER OF COMPLIANCE FAILING STAY ALERT CHECKS FROM 47% (36/76) IN 2024 TO 45% (45/100). OBJECTIVE 6: DECREASE 30-DAY ALCOHOL USE AMONG 12TH GRADERS BY 1%, FROM 12% IN 2025 TO 11% IN 2027, AS MEASURED BY THE DFC CORE MEASURES SURVEY.