Project Grant NH28CE003490

THE MAYAHUEL PREVENTION CONSORTIUM II - EXPERIENCED SOUTHERN ARIZONA DFC AWARDEE AMISTADES, INC. JOINS THE MULTI-SECTOR MAYAHUEL PREVENTION CONSORTIUM III (MPCII) IN PROPOSING TO ENGAGE YOUTH AGES 10-18 AND THEIR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LEADERS IN THE LATINO-DOMINANT, US-MEXICO BORDER COMMUNITY OF DOUGLAS, ARIZONA IN ADDRESSING FAST-RISING RATES OF YOUTH UNDERAGE DRINKING AND SUBSTANCE USE, SPECIFICALLY MARIJUANA, PSYCHOSTIMULANTS, AND OPIOIDS - WITH EMPHASIS ON FENTANYL. FUNDING WILL BE USED TO IMPLEMENT SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATION, POLICY CHANGE AND CAPACITY-BUILDING EFFORTS AIMED AT 1) REDUCING YOUTH ACCESS TO TARGETED SUBSTANCES THROUGH KEY SOCIAL HOST AND RED TAG ORDINANCES; 2) CHANGING LATINO CULTURAL NORMS ACCEPTING OF YOUTH ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA USE THROUGH SUD/OUD PREVENTION EDUCATION AND OUTREACH; 3) ENHANCING YOUTH AND ADULT COMMUNICATION AND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS PROMOTING POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT AND SUBSTANCE USE REFUSAL SKILLS, AND 4) INCREASING COMMUNITY-BASED PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES THAT REDUCE RISK AND ENHANCE PROTECTION. LATINO-LED AMISTADES WILL USE ITS DEMONSTRATED EXPERTISE IN INTEGRATING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND TRAUMA-INFORMED METHODS INTO PREVENTION PROGRAMMING TO ENSURE ENGAGEMENT OF LATINO YOUTH AND ADULTS AT ALL LEVELS OF ACCULTURATION. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE 1) COALITION CAPACITY BUILDING IN LEADERSHIP, MOBILIZATION, USE OF DATA, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE EBP IMPLEMENTATION; 2) PARENT AND YOUTH MOBILIZATION TO COORDINATE COMMUNITY PREVENTION EFFORTS AND PROSOCIAL ACTIVITIES; 3) COMMUNITY POLICY DEVELOPMENT TO LIMIT ACCESS AND YOUTH AVAILABILITY OF ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA; 4) BINATIONAL PREVENTION EDUCATION BUILDING KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL AMONG YOUTH AND PARENTS LIVING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER; AND 5) DATA-DRIVEN PLANNING AND EVALUATION.