The martinsburg initiative's sober truth on preventingunderage drinking act grant - the problem of underage drinking is a serious threat to the youth, families and communities in berkeley county, west…

The martinsburg initiative's sober truth on preventingunderage drinking act grant - the problem of underage drinking is a serious threat to the youth, families and communities in berkeley county, west virginia. For this project, the martinsburg initiative (TMI) has identified the risk and protective factors for underage drinking which we will use to support environmental prevention and reduction strategies. Our focus is on policy change/awareness, enforcement, and youth-led social norms campaign along with prevention education to accomplish our goals. The martinsburg initiative is an innovative and holistic police-school- community-health-education coalition. TMI was awarded the drug-free communities grant in september 2022. The program focuses on youth substance use prevention and addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACES) to create a trauma-informed community working to build resilience in children, so they are less likely to succumb to scientific research prediction. TMI, berkeley county schools, shepherd university, and the local police departments in berkeley county have a shared vision of promoting a safe, healthy, drug-free community and seek to promote resilience in downtown martinsburg, the city hub of berkeley county, west virginia. From our selected goals and objectives, we hope to expand our capacity and capabilities of working effective environmental strategies to address underage drinking prevention. At a minimum, 6,000-8,000 people (YEARLY) will be part of our efforts or be affected by our initiatives. We intend to serve all sectors of our community throughout the lifespan of this grant.