Project Grant H79SP084425

WESTCARE GEORGIA, INC.'S PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL PREVENT AND REDUCE ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN METRO ATLANTA, GEORGIA. - WESTCARE GEORGIA, INC.'S PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL PREVENT AND REDUCE ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS BY IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE-BASED COMMUNITY APPROACHES, ENHANCING COLLABORATION, COOPERATION AND COORDINATION AMONG COMMUNITIES, FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, AND CONVENING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS AND TOWN HALLS IN METRO ATLANTA, GEORGIA. THE POPULATION OF FOCUS WILL BE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 12-20 WHO RISK THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF UNDERAGE DRINKING BY ENGAGING IN ALCOHOL USE OCCASIONALLY, FREQUENTLY, OR BINGE DRINKING ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE GEOGRAPHICAL CATCHMENT AREA WILL INCLUDE THE ENTIRE 30315 ZIP CODE TABULATION AREA (ZCTA) IN FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA AND INCLUDE THE MECHANICSVILLE, SUMMERHILL, PEOPLESTOWN, PITTSBURGH, AND ADAIR PARK NEIGHBORHOODS. THE PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL EXPAND AND INCREASE WESTCARE GEORGIA'S ABILITY TO ADDRESS UNDERAGE DRINKING IN THE 30315 ZCTA BY IMPLEMENTING RELEVANT EVIDENCE-BASED COMMUNITY APPROACHES INCLUDING THE DISSEMINATION OF PREVENTION INFORMATION THROUGH MULTIPLE MEDIA CHANNELS, COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ON PREVENTION INITIATIVES, CONDUCTING MOCK DUI RE-ENACTMENTS, CONDUCTING STICKER SHOCK CAMPAIGNS, HOSTING THE CARES PROGRAM AND HOLDING YOUTH ROUND TABLES AND OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS TO BUILD AWARENESS AND SUPPORT. THE PRIMARY GOALS OF THE PROGRAM, EACH WITH MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES, ARE: 1) EXPAND WESTCARE GEORGIA COALITION EFFORTS AMONG COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS UNDERAGE DRINKING AMONG YOUTH AGES 12-20 IN THE ATLANTA METRO AREA 2) REDUCE RISK FACTORS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CONTRIBUTE TO UNDERAGE DRINKING AND PROMOTING PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAT MINIMIZE UNDERAGE DRINKING AMONG YOUTH 12-20 IN THE ATLANTA METRO AREA.