Maine prevention network partnerships for success 2022 - the maine prevention network partnerships for success (MPN PFS) project will enhance the capacity and infrastructure of maine's network of…

Maine prevention network partnerships for success 2022 - the maine prevention network partnerships for success (MPN PFS) project will enhance the capacity and infrastructure of maine's network of community prevention and youth engagement providers. The project priorities include decreased use of alcohol and cannabis and an increased sense of mattering in the community. The work will impact maine's 10-25 year old population with attention on lgbtq+ youth and young adults and low-income youth. MPN PFS project goals are to: prevent the initiation of substance use and high-risk substance use by maine's youth and young adults, ages 10-25; strengthen maine's prevention infrastructure to reach priority populations and carry out upstream prevention activities; promote life skills, resilience building, and community connection for maine youth and young adults, with a priority focus being on those identifying as lgbtq+; and turn data into action by expanding state and local level surveillance and evaluation efforts. Maine has some of the highest rates in the nation for substance use disorder (SUD) among young adults (18-25), ranking 3RD in the nation with one in three young adults qualifying as having an SUD. Fewer young adults in maine perceive binge drinking (31%) or smoking cannabis monthly (6%) as a risky behavior compared to those over 26 (42% and 17%, respectively). Rates of underage substance use are higher among students who identify as lgbtq+ than among their peers. In 2019, rates of both past month alcohol and cannabis use were significantly higher amongst lgbtq+ students than their non-lgbtq+ peers - 27% VS 22% for alcohol, and 30% VS 21% for cannabis. The biggest increases in alcohol and cannabis use among maine's youth and young adults happen at key transition periods in their lives - the transition from middle to high school and high school to college or the workforce. Maine will address this trend by increasing the capacity of our network of prevention coalitions; increasing programming to middle school aged youth; enhancing community connection through lgbtq+ inclusive programs and policies , and the youth employment program, gateway to opportunity. The primary project objectives are: by september 2027, reduce by 10%, past 30 day alcohol and cannabis use by maine middle and high school students; binge drinking in the high school and young adult populations; and increase by 15% the number of middle and high school youth who feel they matter to their community and the number of lgbtq+ youth who feel they matter to their community. Based on historical programmatic reach, for the 10-25 year old population, the expected reach is 25,000 10-25 year old's with individual based programs annually and 930,000 with population-based programs. This translates to 125,000 individual reach and 4.5 million population reach over five years.