Project Grant H79SP083626

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.