Wabash county drug free community coalition - the wabash county drug free community coalition (wcdfcc), established in early 2023, maintains a 12-sector representation focused on building capacity…

Wabash county drug free community coalition - the wabash county drug free community coalition (wcdfcc), established in early 2023, maintains a 12-sector representation focused on building capacity needed to prevent and reduce alcohol and marijuana use in wabash county youth ages 12-18, by implementing evidence-based strategies and identifying data-driven approaches for solutions to local problems that affect lasting change. Wabash county drug free community coalition proposes to serve rural wabash county, illinois, a community of 11,631 residents. This community presents with limited social and economic opportunities, low educational achievement, and pronounced health disparities. This coalition will utilize the drug free communities 7 strategies for community change as a guide to increase coalition capacity, as well as, introduce approaches targeting individual and environmental strategies to address, implement, and ultimately prevent alcohol and marijuana usage among wabash county youth and subsequently reduce adult substance use. Strategies that will be employed through the coalition include: providing information, building skills, providing support, changing consequences, and changing physical design. The wcdfcc's multifaceted approach to youth substance use prevention will aim to reduce identified high risk behaviors as documented in the 2024 illinois youth survey (IYS), a survey distributed every two years to collect data on youth substance use behaviors, perceived risk, as well as, peer and parental disapproval. The wcdfcc collaborated with local school districts in the fall of 2023 to implement the IYS so that we may gather baseline data to identify risks that the coalition can address generating measurable changes due to prevention efforts of the coalition. This survey was disseminated through local school districts for grades 8, 10, and 12. Results of the IYS identified many high-risk behaviors and contributing factors for increased substance use within wabash county youth. To add ress these risk factors the wcdfcc created an action plan to address both individual and environmental strategies to decrease and prevent youth substance use. The coalition plans to increase knowledge of youth, parents, and community members, through information disseminated across multiple outlets including social media, website, billboards, and by participating in community outreach events. The wcdfcc will implement a youth coalition, with a shared vision and mission, capturing the unique youth perspective on community needs. This plan will also include prevention activities and initiatives that build the capacity of the coalition while empowering to create community change. Such activities include outlets to increase positive behaviors like providing drug-free activities that will be offered strategically through grant period, including a trivia night, family movie night, and a free swim day, with coalition members both adult and youth leading the efforts. Coalition capacity building through education, skill building, and strategic planning, will be paramount for sustainability. Wcdfcc will implement training opportunities for all coalition members including the substance use training johnny's ambassador's annual prevention conference, the national academy, which will increase core competencies and the essential processes to maintain a highly effective coalition, as well as the cadca mid-year training. This coalition is represented by highly motivated individuals who are trusted leaders and are ready to utilize funding secured through the drug free communities positively influence both individual and community perception and usage of alcohol and marijuana.