Project Grant H79SP083499

ADDRESSING YOUTH ALCOHOL USE IN VERMONT'S WEST RIVER VALLEY - PROJECT NAME: ADDRESSING YOUTH ALCOHOL USE IN VERMONT'S WEST RIVER VALLEY THE WEST RIVER VALLEY THRIVES COALITION (THRIVES), SEEKS TO BUILD COMMUNITY CAPACITY TO PREVENT AND REDUCE YOUTH ALCOHOL USE IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES OF VERMONT'S WEST RIVER VALLEY. LOCAL COMMUNITY DATA REFLECT HIGH RATES OF UNDERAGE DRINKING, LOW PERCEPTIONS OF HARM, ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND COMMUNITY NORMS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO YOUTH ALCOHOL USE. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY CAPACITY TO ADDRESS THESE FACTORS THROUGH SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. SPECIFICALLY, THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO: 1.INCREASE COALITION AND COMMUNITY CAPACITY TO ADDRESS UNDERAGED DRINKING, AND 2. DECREASE UNDERAGED ALCOHOL USE THROUGH A MULTI-STRATEGY APPROACH BASED ON THE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK. THE POPULATION OF FOCUS INCLUDES YOUTH 12-20 LIVING IN THE 7 TOWNS THAT MAKE UP THE WEST RIVER VALLEY, AS WELL AS ADULTS, PRIMARILY PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, IN THESE TOWNS WITH WHOM THE COMMUNITY NORMS AROUND DRINKING AND YOUTH ACCESS TO ALCOHOL CAN BE ADDRESSED AND CHANGED. THE PROJECTED NUMBER OF PERSONS SERVED ANNUALLY INCLUDES: 500 PARENTS, 300 YOUTH 12 - 20 AND 2,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE ESTIMATE TOTALS REACHED DURING THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT TO BE: 2,000 PARENTS, 1,200 YOUTH AND 8,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: INCREASE PARENT AND CARING ADULT INVOLVEMENT IN THE COALITION AND CAPACITY TO REDUCE UNDERAGE DRINKING; INCREASE PERCEPTION OF HARM AND LOWER EASE OF ACCESS TO DECREASE PAST 30-DAY USE; INCREASE ADULT AWARENESS OF RISKS AND CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH, AND BEST PRACTICES TO PREVENT, YOUTH ACCESS TO ALCOHOL; ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND COMMUNITY NORMS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO PERCEIVED ACCEPTANCE OF UNDERAGE DRINKING. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, THRIVES WILL DEVELOP A 12-MONTH ACTION PLAN FOR EACH YEAR OF FUNDING BASED ON CURRENT CONDITION AND DATA. STRATEGIES WILL INCLUDE (NOT LIMITED TO): CAPACITY-BUILDING EDUCATION INCLUDING YOUTH AND ADULT TRAINING IN THE SPF TO FACILITATE ENGAGEMENT IN COALITION WORK; SOCIAL NORMS AND MARKETING CAMPAIGNS; DIRECT PREVENTION SERVICES TO YOUTH AND FAMILIES; CAPACITY-BUILDING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE COLLABORATION ACROSS GOVERNMENTAL, YOUTH PROVIDER AND EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS; COLLABORATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INCREASE ALCOHOL OUTLET COMPLIANCE CHECKS AND OTHER STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS; A TARGETED AND INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE MORE PARENT AND CARING ADULTS, AND ADVOCACY FOR LOCAL POLITIES THAT RESTRICT ALCOHOL ACCESS IN PUBLIC SPACES, PARTICULARLY DURING FAMILY-FOCUSED EVENTS.