Redeemed Christian Church Of God

FAIRFIELD HERITAGE PREVENTION COALITION DFC GRANT APPLICATION

FAIRFIELD HERITAGE PREVENTION COALITION STOP ACT GRANT APPLICATION - THE FAIRFIELD HERITAGE PREVENTION COALITION (FHPC) SEEKS FUNDING THROUGH THE STOP ACT TO REDUCE UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUTH AGES 12–20 IN FAIRFIELD, OHIO, WHILE STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY COLLABORATION TO PREVENT ALCOHOL MISUSE BEFORE IT BEGINS. THE PROJECT WILL SERVE YOUTH, FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT FAIRFIELD, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO NEIGHBORHOODS EXPERIENCING HIGHER LEVELS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY. UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE CONTINUES TO BE A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN IN BUTLER COUNTY. LOCAL AND STATE DATA INDICATE THAT MANY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORT ALCOHOL USE, WITH SOME BEGINNING AS EARLY AS SIXTH GRADE. EARLY ALCOHOL USE INCREASES THE RISK OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, INJURIES, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND OTHER LONG-TERM HEALTH CONSEQUENCES. EXISTING PREVENTION EFFORTS ARE LIMITED BY INSUFFICIENT COORDINATION, RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS, AND A LACK OF CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PROGRAMMING FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. USING SAMHSA'S STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK (SPF), FHPC WILL IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED, COMMUNITY-LEVEL PREVENTION STRATEGIES THAT ADDRESS THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO UNDERAGE DRINKING. THE COALITION WILL STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS AMONG SCHOOLS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO CREATE A COORDINATED PREVENTION SYSTEM. KEY PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE EXPANDING COALITION MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT; DELIVERING EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS; PROVIDING YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND PEER-TO-PEER PREVENTION OPPORTUNITIES; CONDUCTING RETAILER EDUCATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PREVENTION STRATEGIES TO REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS TO ALCOHOL; PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY POLICIES; IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PREVENTION PROGRAMS; AND COLLECTING DATA TO MONITOR PROGRESS AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES. THE PROJECT AIMS TO INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF THE HARMS OF UNDERAGE DRINKING, EXPAND PARTICIPATION IN PREVENTION INITIATIVES, STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS, INCREASE YOUTH PERCEPTION OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOL USE, REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS TO ALCOHOL, AND DECREASE PAST 30-DAY ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUTH. PROGRESS WILL BE MEASURED USING VALIDATED SURVEYS, COALITION PERFORMANCE MEASURES, TRAINING PARTICIPATION RECORDS, PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH DATA, AND OTHER ESTABLISHED EVALUATION TOOLS CONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL PERFORMANCE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. FHPC HAS DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE MANAGING FEDERALLY FUNDED PREVENTION INITIATIVES AND MAINTAINS STRONG PARTNERSHIPS THROUGHOUT FAIRFIELD. THE COALITION CURRENTLY COLLABORATES WITH SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, YOUTH-SERVING AGENCIES, AND OTHER LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS TO IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION STRATEGIES. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, FHPC WILL BUILD A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PREVENTION INFRASTRUCTURE THAT REDUCES UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE, PROMOTES HEALTHY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPROVES THE LONG-TERM HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF FAIRFIELD'S YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES.