FY 2024 volunteers of america of the carolinas SPF-PFS program: quad county save program - volunteers of america of the carolinas (VOAC) proposes to serve individuals residing in the southern…

FY 2024 volunteers of america of the carolinas SPF-PFS program: quad county save program - volunteers of america of the carolinas (VOAC) proposes to serve individuals residing in the southern contiguous north carolina counties of bladen, brunswick, columbus, and pender through the quad county save program designed to prevent the onset and reduce the progression of substance use and related problems by strengthening prevention capacity and infrastructure at the community level. The quad county save program will focus its efforts on veterans and lgbtq+ individuals along with the multigenerational impact of substance use in the rural four-county service area. The proposed service area's total population is 277,125;1 1.4% identify as american indian, native alaskan; 15.6% black or african american; 6.3% as hispanic or latino; 5.4% multiracial; and 73.5% white.2 there are 138,174 males and 143,683 females.3 there are 7,194 grandparents living with their own grandchildren under the age of 18.4 the poverty rate in bladen is nearly double the rate experienced in north carolina (12.8%) and the U.S. (12.5%) and the child poverty rate soars to 41.1%. Goal 1: VOAC in collaboration with the quad county substance use coalition (QCSUC) - the program's advisory council - will conduct a formal needs assessment to identify subpopulations who are vulnerable to substance use and to better understand access, use, and outcome disparities. Objective a. Within the first 90 days, begin conducting a formal needs assessment led by the data analyst that will be completed by month 4 and submitted to samsha with the second quarterly report. Objective B. By month 4, quad county save program staff and the QCSUC will use needs assessment findings to identify up to three data driven community substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion priorities. Goal 2: VOAC will lead prevention capacity and infrastructure building efforts at the community level to support development, implementation, and evaluation of prevention, education, outreach, and assessment strategies that will address resource gaps identified in the needs assessment. Objective a. Existing partnerships will be strengthened and new partnerships will be established via the QCSUC comprised of diverse stakeholders and key community leaders who will meet monthly beginning in month 1 and throughout the funding period to increase capacity to address identified needs. Objective B. By month 4, the QCSUC and quad county save program staff will identify the most appropriate, culturally competent, evidence-based programs and prevention strategies to implement based on needs assessment outcomes. Goal 3: prevent the onset and reduce the progression of substance use for individuals targeting vulnerable subpopulations in the community based on the needs assessment by implementing culturally competent, evidence-based programs (EBPS), policies, and practices. Objective a. Provide individual and small group prevention education to 75 students, parents, and grandparents throughout year 1 through the selected, evidence-based substance use prevention curriculum; annually reach 250 in years 2-5 for a total of 1,075. Objective B. As a result of prevention education, using pre- and post-survey results, 80% of participants will report improved awareness and knowledge of substance misuse and mental health issues impacting the community and how to connect with services. Objective C. Provide in-person and virtual prevention messaging and outreach to 100 community members including the QCSUC and other community stakeholders in year 1; by the end of years 2-5 reach 300; for a total of 1,300 community members reached. Objective D. As a result of prevention education, using pre- and post-survey results, 80% of participants will report improved awareness and knowledge of substance misuse and mental health issues impacting the community and how to connect with services.