Project Grant H79SP085392

EAST PROVIDENCE STOP ACT INITIATIVE: REDUCING YOUTH ALCOHOL USE THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES, POLICY, EDUCATION, AND ENGAGEMENT TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES. - THE EAST PROVIDENCE PREVENTION COALITION (EPPC) WILL IMPLEMENT THE SOBER TRUTH ON PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING (STOP ACT) PROJECT TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY CAPACITY AND REDUCE UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 12-20 IN EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND. USING THE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK (SPF) AND CADCA'S SEVEN STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE, EPPC WILL IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES, ENVIRONMENTAL APPROACHES, POLICY INITIATIVES, AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION TO REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS TO ALCOHOL AND STRENGTHEN PROTECTIVE FACTORS. STOP ACT FUNDING WILL STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY OF SCHOOLS, PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, ALCOHOL RETAILERS, MUNICIPAL AGENCIES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT AND SUSTAIN COORDINATED PREVENTION EFFORTS. EAST PROVIDENCE IS RHODE ISLAND'S FIFTH-LARGEST MUNICIPALITY, WITH APPROXIMATELY 48,249 RESIDENTS, INCLUDING 7,928 YOUTH UNDER AGE 18. THE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES SEVERAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE, INCLUDING FAVORABLE COMMUNITY ALCOHOL NORMS, HIGH ALCOHOL RETAILER DENSITY (93 LICENSED ESTABLISHMENTS), CHRONIC HIGH SCHOOL ABSENTEEISM (31%), AND EASY ACCESS TO ALCOHOL THROUGH BOTH COMMERCIAL AND SOCIAL SOURCES. MORE THAN HALF OF PUBLIC-SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE CLASSIFIED AS LOW INCOME, AND OVER 4,400 CHILDREN RECEIVE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. LOCAL ASSESSMENT DATA INDICATE THAT ALCOHOL REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST COMMONLY USED SUBSTANCES AMONG YOUTH, DEMONSTRATING THE CONTINUED NEED TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY PREVENTION CAPACITY. EPPC WILL STRENGTHEN PREVENTION CAPACITY BY IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING LIFESKILLS TRAINING, PREVENTION PLUS WELLNESS SPORT, INSHAPE, AND THE LIFESKILLS PARENT PROGRAM, ALONG WITH RESPONSIBLE BEVERAGE SERVICE TRAINING, ALCOHOL COMPLIANCE CHECKS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCANS, YOUTH LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE EAST PROVIDENCE YOUTH COUNCIL (EPYC), COMMUNITY EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS, STICKER SHOCK, LOCALLY ADAPTED TALK. THEY HEAR YOU. MATERIALS, COALITION MEETINGS, COMMUNITY FORUMS, AND POLICY INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE. THE PROJECT WILL REDUCE PAST 30-DAY ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUTH FROM 6% (2024) TO 4% BY 2030, DECREASE PERCEIVED EASE OF YOUTH ACCESS TO ALCOHOL FROM 38% TO 25%, INCREASE PARENTAL DISAPPROVAL OF UNDERAGE DRINKING FROM 78% TO 90%, AND INCREASE YOUTH PERCEPTION OF HARM AND PEER DISAPPROVAL, AS MEASURED THROUGH THE RHODE ISLAND STUDENT SURVEY (RISS) AND EPPC PARENT AND COMMUNITY SURVEYS. EPPC HAS DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION INITIATIVES AND HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS A CADCA BLUE RIBBON COALITION AND 2023 CADCA COALITION OF THE YEAR. BY STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, INCREASING PREVENTION CAPACITY, AND IMPLEMENTING COORDINATED ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES, THE PROPOSED STOP ACT PROJECT WILL REDUCE UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE AND CREATE HEALTHIER, SAFER ENVIRONMENTS FOR EAST PROVIDENCE YOUTH.