Project Grant NH28CE003506

SALEM COUNTY HEALTHY COMMUNITIES COALITION - THE MISSION OF LIVE HEALTHY SALEM COUNTY'S SALEM COUNTY HEALTHY COMMUNITIES COALITION (SCHCC) IS TO PREVENT AND REDUCE YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE IN SALEM COUNTY THROUGH COLLABORATION BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PROPOSAL, THE SCHCC WILL USE THE SOUTHWEST COUNCIL INC. AS A FISCAL AGENT. SALEM COUNTY, NJ IS A SPARSELY POPULATED COUNTY ON THE BORDER WITH DELAWARE. THE COUNTY HAS RICH AGRICULTURAL ROOTS BUT IS ECONOMICALLY DEPRIVED WITH LIMITED POCKETS OF PROSPERITY. THE 2020 CENSUS DOCUMENTED 64,837 PEOPLE LIVING IN SALEM'S 15 MUNICIPALITIES AND SURROUNDING LAND. THIRTY PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS SPEND MORE THAN 50% OF THEIR INCOME ON RENT. TWENTY-THREE PERCENT OF SALEM COUNTY CHILDREN UNDER 18 LIVE BELOW POVERTY, COMPARED TO THE STATE AVERAGE OF 12%. IT IS LESS ETHNICALLY DIVERSE THAN THE REST OF THE STATE WITH 72% OF RESIDENTS IDENTIFYING AS WHITE ALONE. AFRICAN AMERICANS MAKE UP 15% OF RESIDENTS AND 10% OF THE COUNTY POPULATION IS LATINO OF ANY RACE. THE 2021 COUNTY HEALTH RANKINGS PUT SALEM COUNTY AT 20 OUT OF 21 COUNTIES IN TERMS OF POOREST HEALTH OUTCOMES AND LOWER PRESENCE OF HEALTH FACTORS. THE PRIMARY DRUGS OF CONCERN ARE TOBACCO, ALCOHOL, AND MARIJUANA, FOLLOWED BY PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. BASED ON THIS INITIAL ASSESSMENT THE PRIMARY ROOT CAUSES FOR YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE IN SALEM COUNTY INCLUDE 1. INCREASED AVAILABILITY OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, MARIJUANA AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS 2. MINIMAL PERCEPTION OF HARM OF YOUTH TOBACCO AND MARIJUANA USE AMONG YOUTH AND ADULTS. 3.INEQUITABLE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING. TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, THE SCHCC PLANS TO ENGAGE YOUTH AND ADULTS ACROSS THE COUNTY TO : 1. BUILD RESILIENCY IN THE FACE OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, ESPECIALLY IN THE COMMUNITIES OF SALEM CITY AND PENNS GROVE/CARNEYS POINT BY ESTABLISHING SCHOOL RESILIENCY TEAMS PREPARED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH ACE DRIVEN ACADEMIC CHALLENGES. THIS WILL BUILD PROTECTIVE FACTORS INCLUDING IMPROVED ACADEMIC ATTAINMENT/SUCCESS, INCREASED ATTACHMENT TO SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY AND INCREASED PRESENCE OF CARING AND SUPPORTIVE ADULTS. 2. CREATE A CULTURE OF CARE AND CONCERN ABOUT YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE THAT INCREASES THE PERCEIVED RISK OF HARM AND PARENT AND PEER DISAPPROVAL FOR MARIJUANA, TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE BY BUILDING AWARENESS OF HOW YOUTH USE THESE SUBSTANCES AMONG PARENTS, EDUCATORS AND PHYSICIANS AND BY CHANGING POLICY TO INCREASE CONSEQUENCE FOR ADULTS THAT PROVIDE ALCOHOL TO YOUTH AS WELL AS DISCOURAGING POLICY THAT INCREASES ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT SANCTIONED MARIJUANA. 3. BUILD SKILLS TO PREPARE YOUTH TO ADVOCATE FOR PREVENTION POLICY AND TO FOSTER PREVENTION LEADERSHIP THROUGH ONGOING PREVENTION TRAINING AND YOUTH-LED PREVENTION ACTIVITIES. 4. LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH INCLUDING POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING THAT WILL ENABLE YOUTH TO BETTER NEGOTIATE THE SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY CONTEXT THAT SURROUNDS THEM. ADDITIONALLY, SCHCC WILL PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO INCREASE PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISPOSAL OPTIONS IN SALEM COUNTY AND PROMOTE PARTNERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PREVENTION ACROSS THE COUNTY. THE STRATEGIES OUTLINED ABOVE ALONG WITH OTHERS IDENTIFIED THROUGH ONGOING ASSESSMENT AND COURSE CORRECTION MEASURES WILL HELP SCHCC ACHIEVE THE CHANGES IN SCHOOLS AND BROADER COMMUNITIES THAT CAN SUSTAIN LONG TERM DECLINES IN YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE IN SALEM COUNTY. THE SCHCC WILL USE THE PRIDE SURVEY FOR GRADES 6-12 TO COLLECT CORE MEASURES REGARDING YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE ALONGSIDE COALITION PARTNER SURVEYS AND PROCESS EVALUATION MEASURES SUCH AS ATTENDANCE, AND SATISFACTION SURVEYS AT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES.