Project Grant NH28CE003485

LATINX-KING COUNTY DREAM COALITION WILL REDUCE AND PREVENT ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA AND TOBACCO USE AND MISUSE AMONG LATINX YOUTH (GRADES 6-12) IN KING COUNTY, WA. - THE LATINX-KING COUNTY DREAM COALITION WILL WORK IN KING COUNTY, WA TO REDUCE AND CHANGE THE CULTURE AND CONTEXT REGARDING ACCEPTABILITY OF ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA AND TOBACCO USE AND MISUSE AMONG LATINX YOUTH (6TH -12TH GRADES), PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE EDUCATION, TOOLS AND SERVICES THAT REDUCE HARM, EMPOWER AND STRENGTHEN LATINX FAMILIES TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING, ENCOURAGE DRUG FREE YOUTH, AND BRING EQUITY AND JUSTICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS WORK IS NEEDED BECAUSE LATINX YOUTH FACE GREATER RISK FACTORS AND HAVE FEWER PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAN THEIR PEERS FROM MANY OTHER RACIAL/ETHNIC COMMUNITIES, CONTRIBUTING TO HIGH RATES OF SUBSTANCE MISUSE. WE PROPOSE A COMPREHENSIVE EVIDENCE-BASED SUBSTANCE MISUSE PREVENTION PLAN THAT WILL BE LED BY YOUTH, PARENTS AND ALL 12 SECTORS WHO ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE COALITION TO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK (I.E. NEEDS ASSESSMENT, CAPACITY BUILDING, PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION WITH CULTURAL RELEVANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY) AND THE SEVEN STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY-LEVEL CHANGE. PROJECTED LONG TERM OUTCOMES TO BE ACHIEVED OVER FIVE YEARS INCLUDE: 10% DECREASE IN PAST 30 DAY USE; 10% INCREASE IN PERCEPTION OF RISK OF HARM OF USE; 10% DECREASE IN PARENTS' PERCEPTION THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO USE; AND 10% DECREASE IN PERCEPTION THAT OTHER YOUTH (PEERS) APPROVE OF USE. OTHER PROJECTED LONG TERM OUTCOMES INCLUDE 80% OF 6TH -12TH GRADERS AND PARENTS INCREASE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS RELATED TO ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA AND CIGARETTE/SMOKING (E-CIGARETTE, VAPOR) PREVENTION AFTER PARTICIPATION IN OUR EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS.