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The STOP Act of Angelina County project will enhance the capacity of The Coalition, Inc. to reduce underage drinking in Angelina County, Texas by 1) changing community norms regarding alcohol use by youth and young adults, 2) reducing opportunities for alcohol use among youth and young adults, and through 3) improved data collection of alcohol use patterns and the alcohol retail environment. Using the Strategic Prevention Framework to guide and monitor the process, The Coalition will combine multiple evidence-based practices to increase community collaboration and leverage the power of coalition members to change norms and perceptions that lead to dangerous consequences due to underage drinking. Covering 797 square miles of land, Angelina County is located deep within the piney woods of East Texas and has a current population of 86,506 (2021 U.S. Census). The county is rural with several small communities, no urban cities and about a quarter of the population under the age of 18 (25.6%). The area consists of 6 school districts, one charter school and one community college. The primary population of focus for The Coalition's STOP Act project will be youth (ages 12-18). Current alcohol use rates and low perceived risk rates indicate a need for greater prevention services for youth and young adults (Texas School Survey of Drug & Alcohol Use, Region 5, 2022). In addition, youth do not perceive that their parents disapprove of alcohol as compared to marijuana, tobacco and other drugs (Texas School Survey of Drug & Alcohol Use, Region 5, 2022). Youth in Angelina County are not currently served through any alcohol or drug prevention program at a population level. Parents, community leaders, government officials and other essential stakeholders will be important to foster a community-wide, long-term commitment to the prevention and reduction of underage alcohol use. Through the STOP Act project, The Coalition will change community norms regarding alcohol use by youth through increased information dissemination and by implementing a community-wide social norms campaign on the harms of underage drinking and the importance of parental influence. By September 2028, these strategies will increase the perceived risk of alcohol use by youth and young adults by 3% and increase the percentage of youth who feel that their parents somewhat/strongly disapprove of alcohol use by 3%. Opportunities for underage drinking will be reduced through the promotion of enhanced alcohol policies to restrict access. Past 30-day alcohol use will be reduced by 3% for youth and young adults by September 2028. The STOP Act project will improve data collection on alcohol use patterns and the availability of alcohol by annually presenting the benefits of participation in surveys to the local school districts, and through completion of a biennial environmental scan and annual GIS map of the alcohol retail environment in Angelina County. Town Hall meetings will be scheduled in Angelina County communities for public feedback on underage drinking. The STOP Act project will reach approximately 2,500 youth in the first year and 10,000 youth over the lifetime of the project. And, although adults are not the primary population of focus, it is anticipated that approximately 10,000 adults will be reached in the first year and 50,000 adults reached by the end of the project through information dissemination and the social norms campaign.

The Frenchtown Community Coalition is an underage substance use prevention coalition located in Frenchtown, Montana. The goals of the coalition are to 1) Establish and strengthen community collaboration to support local efforts in preventing youth substance use and misuse, and 2) Reduce youth substance use and misuse. Through extensive youth engagement and collaboration between community sector representatives, the FCC works to reduce risk factors and promote protective factors for the youth of Frenchtown.

The STOP Underage Drinking in Taylor will work to prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth and young adults ages 12 to 20 in Taylor, MI. The program will continue to build on strategic planning processes that were developed under a Drug Free Communities (DFC) award using the Strategic Prevention Framework model which addresses underage drinking behaviors while focusing on the gap in needs of LGBTQ youth. The program goals are to establish and strengthen collaboration among community stakeholders and organizations to apply/adapt evidence-based practices that reduce alcohol use among LGBTQ+ youth; Reduce alcohol use and misuse among youth by applying/adapting evidence-based efforts to address risk factors, protective factors, and disparities among LGBTQ+ youth in our community. Serious health, social, and economic problems result from the use of alcohol by youth. Underage drinking is a causal factor in a host of serious problems, including homicide, suicide, traumatic injury, drowning, burns, violent and property crime, high risk sex, fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol poisoning, and need for treatment for alcohol abuse and dependence. According to the 2022 State of Michigan Report on underage drinking the average age of first use of alcohol was 16.4 years of age. In the City of Taylor, the average age of first use was 13 years of age. Over half of LGBTQ youth (56%) used alcohol in the last year, including 47% of LGBTQ youth under the age of 21. Research indicates that LGBTQ students, nationally, within Michigan, and in the target community of Taylor, are at risk for substance abuse, physical violence and experience a negative school environment more frequently than their non-LGBTQ peers. They are at an increased risk of substance use disorder, suicide, school drop-out, homelessness, violence and involvement with law enforcement and incarceration. Risk and protective factors also tend to have a cumulative effect on development—or reduced development—of behavioral health issues. Youth with multiple risk factors have a greater probability of developing conditions that might impact their physical or mental health; young people with multiple protective factors are at a reduced risk of these conditions. STOP will use a Task Force and a youth coalition to create a safe, inclusive, affirming environment where LGBTQ+ youth can connect with peers, build leadership skills, and take care of their mental and physical health. Factors were identified that can help improve outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth. As part of the Action Plan, the Task Force will address LGBTQ+ - related stigma, discrimination, and violence through education offerings to school administrators, building staff and school district support staff. Building on the strengths of LGBTQ+ youth-creating safe spaces for them to gather and create activities for their community to build a support system that fosters expression and growth. The program will implement activities that support capacity building while using evidence-based community approaches, enhancing collaboration, cooperation, and coordination among communities by assembling Town Halls. Lastly STOP will work to create a safe community with affirming environments in schools, stores, restaurants, and other locations in the community cultivating positive relationships and acceptance.

The Graham County Substance Abuse Coalition STOP Act Grant project focuses on preventing underage drinking and problem drinking among youth ages 12-20 years living in Graham County, Arizona. The proposed project will enhance the capacity that the coalition established through DFC funding and increase the coalition’s effectiveness for addressing underage drinking by addressing contextual factors that contribute to underage drinking and problem drinking. Our efforts include implementing evidence-based programs, providing education and awareness activities and providing opportunities for skill building to address attitudes and behaviors associated with youth alcohol use. Anticipated yearly reach is 20,000 adults and 3,000 youth. Measurable objectives for this project include: (1) Strengthening cooperation, coordination and collaboration by 15% among all 12 sectors of the coalition, key government stakeholders and the citizens of the community to reduce alcohol use among youth and young adults; (2) Increasing knowledge and skills of coalition members and key stakeholders by 25% on current best-practices in preventing underage drinking, trauma-informed approaches, youth resiliency building and addressing health inequities; (3) Increasing coalition skills for using data-driven decision-making to respond to and prevent underage drinking and problem drinking by 20%; (4) Obtaining 10% increases in youth, parent and community member perception of the risks of underage drinking, problem drinking and combining alcohol with opioids; (5) obtaining a 5% decrease in youth accessing alcohol through local alcohol retailers; (6) obtaining a 20% increase in parent/caregiver skills to discuss the risks of underage drinking and ways to foster healthy coping strategies and resiliency skills with their youth and young adults; and (7) obtaining a 20% increase in resiliency, coping and stress management skills among high school youth. Strategies of implementation include providing information, building skills, changing consequences and changing physical design through use of a Be a Thinker Not a Drinker campaign, a Sticker Shock campaign in local alcohol retailers, student, parent/caregiver and community education and trainings, and utilization of the Botvin Life Skills Evidence-Base Program to increase life skills and develop youth resiliency skills.

The Collaborative seeks to implement Photovoice as an innovative approach to preventing and reducing alcohol use among high school students (ages 14-19) in East Bridgewater, Whitman and Rockland, MA. Goal one of the proposed program is to reduce youth alcohol use in the Collaborative’s communities by implementing Photovoice as an evidence-based approach to addressing norms and behaviors that may lead to the initiation of use and consequences related to use. Goal two is to change the culture and context regarding acceptability of youth alcohol use. The Collaborative will implement one Photovoice project per year targeting a cohort of youth that reside in each of the three communities. This approach will allow for the Collaborative to maximize engagement with the identified cohort of students to effectively increase awareness of underage drinking, reduce risk factors and increase protective factors through the Photovoice project. The Collaborative will also work towards increasing caregivers’ understanding of ways to build youth self-regulation and increase recognition of underage drinking through educational opportunities with youth and families. By the end of each year, youth and families will have participated in a call to action, community events, and a celebration of the youth’s work, all while engaging community leaders across the region to implement effective change as a result. The Collaborative plans to capitalize on existing partnerships formed through its Drug Free Communities program to engage youth and families from disadvantaged and marginalized communities in the participatory photography project and related activities. As a prevention leader in Southeastern MA, the Collaborative has extensive experience implementing Photovoice in collaboration with community partners, completing more than 20 Photovoice projects to date. The Collaborative’s geographic catchment area is located in southeastern Massachusetts (MA) and encompasses the adjoining towns of East Bridgewater, Rockland and Whitman. The Collaborative serves approximately 47,515 individuals across the three suburban towns which makes up just over 8% of Plymouth County, MA. On average, together these communities are made up of predominantly White residents (90%), in addition to 2.4% of the population being African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.33 American Indian, 4.33% Two or More Races and 3% Hispanic. There are no federally recognized tribes in the geographic area. The median household income of the region is $107,359 with 5.9% of persons living in poverty. Within the three mainstream high schools, there are approximately 2,225 students to be served in the region, 48% of which identify as female, 52% male and less than 1% non-binary. The two vocational high schools in the region include South Shore Technical and Southeastern Vocational Technical High School which serve 2,205 students, 43% female, 57% male and less than 1% non-binary. The Collaborative plans to reach 208,200 youth and adults by the end of the four-year grant period.

Pacifica Prevention Partnership(PPP) STOP Project PPP’s STOP project focuses on access and availability of alcohol and drugs, media messaging, youth-led research, and policy advocacy. Youth leadership continues to be in the forefront of our work and uses a peer-led approach to inform youth activism, civic engagement, and policy advocacy to promote social change and reduce youth substance use We continue to implement retail strategies focusing on merchants' education, recognition, and lawful compliance. We also have social strategies including parent education and the implementation of social host (underage drinking in the home) ordinances. Our target population is BIPOC, low-income, immigrant, and at-risk youth ages 13-18 residing in northern San Mateo County with the majority coming from Daly City and Pacifica. Daly City residents are 78.7% BIPOC. Of our participants, nearly 40% are non-English speakers, mostly monolingual Spanish and Tagalog. In 2022-23, our participants were 24% Latinx, 35% Asian, 17% Caucasian, 4% Black, and 11% Mixed Race, with 21% identifying as LGBTQIA+. Some of our participants are justice-involved, children in foster care, or have special needs and we collaborate with their respective community support systems. We will serve approximately 400 people annually through our youth leadership programs, health education and merchant education. The following are our projects goals and objectives: Goal One: To increase the capacity of PPP and the community to enhance initiatives to reduce alcohol use amongst youth and collaborate with public, private, and non-profit agencies as well as federal, state, and local governments to support the efforts of the community coalition work. Objective A: By August 2028, partnership members, staff, and/or partnering agencies will participate in 16 quarterly training sessions, training 100 community members based on Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA), a nationally recognized model program that uses community-organizing strategies to reduce youth access to alcohol by changing community access and practices. Objective B: By August 2028, we will train and recruit at least 120 BTC participants who will facilitate 300 youth meetings. Objective C: By August 2028, 120 BTC youth participants will report increased knowledge and skills to address youth alcohol use as measured by the Youth Development Survey Objective D: By August 2028, BTC youth coalition will host 4 annual youth summits to address underage drinking among youth. Goal Two: Reduce underage drinking amongst youth by implementing evidence based strategies that minimize the risks and behaviors that lead to alcohol use among youth.(Alcohol-Access/availability) Objective E: By August 2028, Pacifica will be joined by Daly City, Colma and Brisbane as cities receiving merchant education and retail compliance checks reaching 400 merchants. Objective F: By August 2028, INSPIRE will connect 140 youth to additional substance use services to prevent youth from progressing from experimental use into substance use disorder.

“Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking in CWC 96744” goal is to change the community’s belief that underage drinking is acceptable in windward Oahu communities with the 96744 zip code. Community Works Coalition in 96744 (CWC 96744) is a multi-sector collaborative of individuals, businesses, government agencies, political leaders, schools, churches using the Strategic Prevention Framework model to prevent youth substance abuse, strengthen community collaboration, improve the overall health of the community, and strengthening families within the 96744 zip code. CWC change efforts will focus on preventing underage drinking in youth ages 9-17 and young adults ages 18-24, which number approximately over 12,000 total in the region. Current underage drinking rates are higher in the Kaneohe/Windward Oahu region than in Honolulu County and the state of Hawaii. More than 30% of Windward youth and 40% of Kaneohe youth “currently drank alcohol in the past 30 days” as compared to 25% and 27% in Honolulu county and the state, respectively. Youth initiation into alcohol use is as young as 8 years old and before age 13. Adults believe it is acceptable to provide, give, buy alcohol for underage youth (54% of youth reported their parents/guardians are okay with them drinking alcohol under certain circumstances, such as special occasions, if the adult were with them, or if they were at home). Twenty-two percent of Kaneohe/Windward Oahu youth reported getting alcohol from an adult; 12.5% said they took alcohol from an adult; and 10.8% said they gave someone money to buy alcohol for them. To change the permissive attitude that underage alcohol drinking is okay, CWC 96744 will host community events and action projects that engage both youth and adults to foster dialogue, raise awareness, and encourage positive, healthy behaviors within the 96744 communities. The coalition will design educational, engaging, and relevant activities, such as community clean-ups, health fairs, and art contests for youth, and host town halls/community “talk story” events that provide adults the tools and knowledge to understand the consequences of providing underage youth with alcohol and how to effectively communicate with youth about the risks associated with alcohol consumption. CWC 96744 will also leverage the use of social media to disseminate brief, recurring, positive messages that contain educational content and personal stories that lead to the goal of nurturing a safer, healthier future for young people. CWC 96744 will also strengthen and expand its membership to increase its capacity to amplify and sustain its community events, projects, and communication efforts towards changing the drinking environment and preventing underage drinking. The project’s goals and objectives include: 1. Decrease by two percent from 30% the adults who think it is acceptable for underage youth to drink alcohol (CWC Youth Survey); 2. Decrease by two percent from 16% the adults who provide alcohol to underage youth (CWC Youth Survey); and 3. Decrease by two percent from 43%, high school students who report drinking alcohol in the past 30 days (CWC Youth Survey).

Step Up Naugy (SUN) is the local prevention coalition for the borough of Naugatuck, Connecticut. SUN serves the 31,586 people of Naugatuck, including nearly 4,500 school-age youth. STOP funds will enhance the current Drug-Free Communities project to build capacity and reduce service gaps in alcohol prevention. Youth in grades 7-12 will be targeted under STOP, including sexual, gender, and ethnic minorities. SUN serves the entire Naugatuck community, the racial and ethnic makeup of which is 73% White, 12% Hispanic or Latino/a, 8% Black, 3% Asian, and 4% Other. The STOP program will target youth in 7th-12th grades, aligning with the middle and high school grades in the borough. There are 1,923 students in those grades, who are 43% White, 36% Hispanic or Latino, 13% Black, 2% Asian, and 5% two or more races. Forty eight percent identify as female, 46% identify as male and 6% identify as Transgender or Nonbinary (i.e., gender minorities). Nineteen percent identify as non-heterosexual (i.e., sexual minorities). The STOP project is estimated to serve 100 youth and 500 community members annually, for a total of 1800 people over the three-year project period. SUN will target capacity building, bridging service gaps, and reducing alcohol use amongst youth under STOP. The coalition will use training, outreach, partnerships, and translation of information to build volunteer numbers and educational capacity. The same new partners will be key in identifying and bridging service gaps for underserved individuals. Reducing access, targeting community norms, partnering with intergovernmental agencies, and hosting town halls will be strategies toward reducing youth alcohol use. The first goal of this project is to increase the capacity of SUN to reduce youth alcohol use in Naugatuck. This will be achieved by providing three (3) workshops and/or trainings to coalition members and the community on best practice programming and strategies to prevent alcohol-related harms, as measured by SUN attendance sheets; expand coalition representation by recruiting at least 5 adult and youth members to the coalition from the faith-based sector, civic sector, media sector, and high-risk populations of focus, as measured by Coalition Involvement Agreements; meeting with underserved community groups and youth groups at schools to learn what programming will be most effective and to secure collaboration on joint activities, as documented by SUN Discussion Group summaries; translating prevention materials into Spanish including handouts, surveys, resource materials, social media posts, and website information, as measured by STOP Action Plan Tracking document; and building new relations with local government by successfully negotiating an allocation of revenue from retail cannabis sales to SUN for youth prevention activities, as measured by the STOP Action Plan Tracking document. The second goal of the project is to reduce underage drinking rates amongst Naugatuck youth. This will be achieved by decreasing the percentage of Naugatuck youth in 7th to 12th grade who report they access alcohol from their house without parental permission, by 20%, from 25% to 20%, as measured by the SUN Youth Survey (Search Institute); increasing the number of Naugatuck adults who report that they are very familiar with the Social Host Law, by 25%, from 36% to 45%, as measured by the SUN Community Survey; and decreasing the number of Naugatuck adults who report that drinking alcohol is a normal part of growing up, by 15%, from 44% to 37%, as measured by the SUN Community Survey.

AWESOME will serve students age 12-20 in Warren County, Virginia. Over 60% of the young people serve live in a rural community. The project will focus on 6 major goals. These include building more relationships with agencies and individuals who represent disparate populations in our community and including them in event design. Hosting prosocial social and mental health/resilience building events for this age group 8 times per year. Partnering with local law enforcement to conduct compliance checks. Providing trauma informed and trauma supportive certifications. Providing substance misuse assessments to uninsured 18-20 year old people. Utilizing the Talk They Hear You initiative to help caretakers talk to their children about drugs/alcohol.

Anaconda Community Intervention (ACI) serves Deer Lodge County, encompassing 741 square miles (about half the area of Rhode Island) with a population of 9,510 (2022. Deer Lodge County's health index ranks #42 out of 47 counties, placing them in the bottom 11%. The US Census indicates that 91.9% of our population identifies as White, 3.8% as Hispanic/Latino, .9% as African American, 1. % as Alaskan/ American Indian, .7% as Asian, and 4.10% identify as two or more races; and 53% identify as male and 47% female. • Due to our community's economic status, 100% of students in K-12 receive free/reduced breakfast/lunch. • 50% of our youth had their first alcoholic drink before age 18 (2023 YRBS). • 50% of 12th-grade students reported past 30-day use (2022 MPNA). • 62.15% of individuals aged 12 or older in our Substate Region used alcohol in the past month. Averages are based on 2016, 2017, and 2018 NSDUHs. Current Substate estimates are no longer available due to methodological concerns about combining 2020 data with data from 2018 and 2019. • 30.28% of this same group reported binge alcohol use in the past month. Higher than any other region in Montana and the Montana average. Our goal is to prevent and reduce alcohol use among Anaconda-Deer Lodge County youth (ages 12-20) by implementing activities that support capacity building through collaboration, increase accessibility and outreach for our at-risk/high-risk youth, cultivate substance-free environments, and develop strategies to sustain our efforts. We will accomplish this by strengthening collaboration between our Coalition, other Montana-based prevention organizations, and Montana government agencies (that include a focus on the prevention of youth alcohol use), improving methods of disseminating and sharing surveillance data related to underage drinking and population-based risk factors to the public; limiting youth access to alcohol; and decreasing community norms favorable to underage drinking. To measure the impact of our effort, we have established the following outcome objectives, which correlate with the four performance measures required. By September 29, 2028 (using the 2022 MPNA Survey as a baseline): to reduce 8th, 10th, and 12th grade past 30-day use of alcohol from 24.3% to 19.44% (20%); to increase Perception of Risk or Harm from 72% to 86.4% (20%), to strengthen Parental Disapproval (8th, 10th and 12th grade) from 93% to 98% (5.38%), and Perception of Peer Disapproval from 71.9% to 85.92% (20%), to increase attitudes towards peer use of alcohol from 71.2% to 85.44% (20%), and to decrease the incidence of binge drinking (5 or more per occasion) from 14.6% to 11.68% (20%).

The Town of Lynnfield Massachusetts will implement the STOP Act Program to address the following two goals 1) to reduce substance use among youth ages 12-20 and 2) to increase intergovernmental and community collaboration, coordination, and partnerships to implement evidence-based alcohol prevention strategies with a specific focus on addressing disparities in underserved populations in a manner which leverages and expands our current Drug Free Communities work. Selected strategies aim to reduce norms favorable to use, reduce opportunities for underage drinking, create changes in underage drinking enforcement efforts, address penalties for underage use and reduce negative consequences associated with underage drinking.

The Sussex County Coalition for Healthy and Safe Communities (SCCHSC), a program of the Center for Prevention and Counseling, is a former DFC funded Coalition, that is in its 24th year of providing services in Sussex County. Our mission is to build a stronger, healthier Sussex County by preventing and reducing youth substance use. The SCCHSC is the first of nearly three generations of DFC grant funds within our Agency. This project will enhance the SCCHSC work allowing for greater attention to be focused on reducing youth alcohol use by strengthening the Strategic Prevention Framework, which include assessment, capacity building, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The Coalition is a well-recognized resource for all sectors of the community looking for information and programs regarding youth substance use, youth violence and most important, Prevention Tools! This proposal is specific to Hopatcong (HOPA), NJ which is located in Sussex County, and borders Morris, the 2nd most affluent County in NJ. HOPA is 12 square miles, and is home to the largest lake in NJ, Lake HOPA. HOPA is a residential community with a mix of suburban neighborhoods and lakefronts properties. The population being served are young people between the ages of 12 to 20, and the adult population that serve them. STOP activities would serve over 1500 youth annually and over 6000 young people over the 4 years of funding. In addition to influencing over 2,000 adults each year, with a lifetime reach of 8,000. Being awarded the STOP Grant would allow SCCHSC to enhance, not replace, the capacity the coalition has established & would increase the Coalition’s effectiveness addressing underage drinking in this community. Data collection from Winter 2024 ISA survey, illustrates a need to address underage drinking in HOPA. Historically, CFPC has been providing prevention services for over 50 years and has seen the impact of our work. 30-day use of alcohol has trended down in lockstep with national numbers. However, ISA core measure data shows a disturbing trend in the norms and behaviors around youth use of alcohol in HOPA as it compares to our County. 2024 survey results reveal 16% of HOPA students reported using alcohol in the past 30 days indicating a 56% increase over Sussex County average of 11%. Additionally, 66% of students perceived harm around underage drinking as compared to the county-wide 72%. This data illustrates a need to increase our efforts in HOPA. The 1st proposed goal is to Strengthen Community Collaboration to Reduce Underage Drinking. Objective 1: Develop STOP Task Force and grow by 10% as measured with meeting rosters from 2024-2025. Strategy 1 – Expand and increase the coalition’s ability to address underage drinking in the community; Strategy 2 – Increase data collection to capture parent perceptions as they compare with community youth; Strategy 3 – Enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts as it relates to addressing underage drinking and Strategy 4 - Build an Asset-Rich community where youth can thrive using Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets. The 2nd proposed goal is to Reduce Youth Alcohol Use. Objective 1 – Increase by 10% the perception of harm around youth alcohol use as being “wrong” or “very wrong.” Strategy 1 & 2 are: Provide resources & tools for community stakeholders to become engaged in addressing underage drinking and enhance intergovernmental cooperation and coordination on the issue of youth alcohol use. Objective 2 – Increase by 10% the perception of parent disapproval for 6th – 12th graders of youth alcohol use as being “wrong” or “very wrong.” Strategy 1: create awareness about the problem of underage drinking and provide parents with tools and resources. Obj 3 – Increase by 10% the perception of friend disapproval for 6th -12th graders of youth alcohol use as being ""wrong"" or ""very wrong"". Strategies also include creating opportunities for youth to address underage drinking.

Project Name: Preventing Underage Alcohol Use in East Burlington, Alamance County, NC By working through a community coalition model, the purpose of this project is to decrease access to alcohol by youth and to increase protective factors and reduce risk factors that contribute to underage alcohol use in the East Burlington community of Alamance County, North Carolina which has approximately 37,000 residents. This community is comprised of residents who are predominately people of color and who experience a disproportionate amount of crime, overdoses, poverty, and lack of resources such as access to health care, educational attainment, prosocial resources and struggles around language barriers. In this community, Latino residents followed by African Americans are the majority of the population, vastly different from other parts of Burlington and Alamance County. Project goals and objectives for this project are: Goal 1: Increase the capacity of local law enforcement through the Alamance Alcohol Law Enforcement Response Team, to provide alcohol enforcement operations. • Conduct AALERT meetings to plan and assess alcohol operations. • Plan and implement local law enforcement operations and training. Goal 2: Increase collaboration with local on and off premise alcohol retailers to reduce sales of alcohol to underage youth. • Conduct Alcohol Purchase Surveys with off premise retailers in the community. • NC Alcohol Law Enforcement will provide Be a Responsible Seller (BARS) training targeting on and off premise retailers. Goal 3: Increase the engagement of parents using the Talk It Up. Lock It Up! TM Campaign to reduce alcohol access to youth in the home. • Provide education to community about campaign involvement with parents/adults. • Conduct Talk It Up. Lock It Up! TM adult education and pledge events in the community and provide locks to secure alcohol on refrigerators or cabinets. Goal 4: Provide evidence-based Youth Prevention Education to youth in the community. • Implement evidence-based youth prevention programs that address alcohol and other substance misuse. • Assess interest and commitment from the school system and community groups to be trained to implement the curriculum Too Good for Drugs. Goal 5: Increase the number of children and youth in East Burlington engaging in tutoring, mentoring and similar prosocial activities. • Expand project partnerships with new groups in East Burlington that share mutual goals. • Increase youth engagement in Alamance County Youth Advocacy Club efforts that support youth planned and led strategies to reduce underage alcohol. • Develop and disseminate public service announcements on the prevention of underage alcohol use, other substance misuse, or related topics.

The Decisions at Every Turn (DAET) Coalition is a volunteer community-based group in Ashland, Massachusetts, dedicated to promoting healthy decision-making through evidence-based education and prevention strategies to reduce and prevent youth alcohol and other drug use. We create a safe and healthy Ashland by promoting the protective factors that help youth thrive and by reducing the risk factors that contribute to unhealthy behaviors. As community prevention leaders, we achieve this by raising public awareness, advancing prevention education, contributing to effective policy, and promoting community level change. DAET serves the Town of Ashland, a largely residential, primarily white and middle-class town of 18,832 located in the MetroWest region, midway between Boston and Worcester. Ashland has witnessed a tremendous population increase of nearly 20% over the past two decades. This growth is reflected in the Town’s increasing diversity, especially among our 2,903 students across the school district of which 56% are White, 19% are Hispanic, 18% are Asian, 3% are African American, and 4% are Multi-Race/Non-Hispanic. Currently, 20% of students speak a language other than English at home. Throughout the 16 year history of DAET, youth alcohol use has been stubbornly high. While we have seen some reductions in youth alcohol use measures during this time, we are concerned about recent data and reports of alcohol use and behaviors by middle and high school students including the rise in alcohol use between Grade 8 and 9; increasing rates of alcohol use and decreasing perceptions of risk from Grades 9-12; and high-risk drinking and access behaviors by youth who are non-White, have a disability, on an IEP, identify as LGBTQ and/or do not speak English at home. We are further concerned about focus group data and local alcohol polices that convey permissive norms which are shown to contribute to youth alcohol use. The STOP Project will use evidence-based universal prevention strategies to target all middle and high school youth, and support selective strategies to address high-risk behaviors by underserved populations identified in our data. DAET’s Action Plan will be guided by the Seven Strategies for Community Level Change to achieve its goals to enhance the capacity of our members and stakeholders to implement evidence-based prevention strategies and to reduce past 30-day alcohol use by Ashland youth ages 12-20. Objectives include an evaluation of our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts; building membership capacity; educating and building skills in youth and adults; evaluating alcohol policies; and addressing access, perceptions, and community norms. To meet these objectives, DAET will implement strategies that provide information on the risks/prevalence of youth alcohol use, provide support to prevent and reduce alcohol use, enhance skills to recognize and address youth alcohol use, increase access/reduce barriers to prevention resources, and address consequences to decrease youth alcohol use. In Year 1 we expect to reach approximately 1500 middle and high school youth, 600 parents/caregivers, and 150 community members. Building on Year 1 with strategies to further expand community collaboration and community norms messaging, we anticipate reaching a similar number of students and parents each year, and increasing our reach to 300 community members in Year 2; 500 in Year 3, and 750 in Year 4.

Middletown Prevention Coalition (MPC) serves Middletown, located in Newport County Rhode Island. Located on the picturesque Aquidneck Island, alongside the Atlantic coast with Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod nearby. Our community is made up of coastal suburban areas with a population of 17,075. The STOP Grant will impact all youth and young adults in Middletown to prevent and reduce under age alcohol use. The specific population of focus for this grant will be youth ages 12-20 who are at high risk for alcohol use; specifically, the underserved population (at risk), LGBTQ+ youth, youth who actively participate in athletics, Multi Language Learners (MLL), and military-affiliated students and students 18-20 at the community college and local level. We further aim to destigmatize high-risk groups through cultural competency due to the unacceptance of marginalized groups within the region. These groups include but are not limited to the LGBTQ+ community, those who are homeless/at-risk of homelessness, and individuals living in poverty. Implementing prevention strategies based on the Strategic Prevention Framework model in the community will reduce underaged drinking by 4%; implement changes to the local Student Health and Wellness Policy, to require athletic coaches and trainers to receive annual education on youth athlete alcohol prevention strategies; and will increase youth perception of the harm of underage drinking through programming and campaigns. Middletown Prevention Coalition , funded by the Drug-Free Communities Support Program over the past ten years, has strengthened successful local prevention strategies. MPC’s comprehensive approach includes community education on underage drinking consequences, increasing the perception of harm associated with underage drinking, supporting local law enforcement efforts, targeting socioeconomic impacted areas and at risk subpopulations (athletes, military affiliated students, Multi Language Learners (MLL). MPC will achieve this by launching comprehensive media campaigns to raise awareness of underage drinking dangers, and fostering community partnerships to prioritize underage drinking prevention in the county. These strategies aim not only to reduce underage drinking but also to build stronger partnerships among local government and community organizations for sustained impact. With a focus on long-term sustainability, the plan involves engaging multiple community sectors to coordinate underage drinking prevention efforts and drive change across the county.

The project will focus on preventing youth alcohol use among Alexandria youth ages 10-18 through in-person and digital dissemination of alcohol use prevention resources, the promotion and implementation of positive alternative activities that increase protective factors and reduce risk factors, and by reducing youth access to alcohol. The project’s three goals are 1) reduce youth alcohol use among Alexandria Latino youth ages 10-18 through targeted digital and in-person dissemination of alcohol use prevention resources to youth and adults, 2) increase protective factors and reduce risk factors associated with youth alcohol use through the promotion and implementation of positive alternative activities, and 3) reduce youth access to alcohol by building community capacity and increasing community collaboration. The objectives aligned with these goals are 1a) reach at least 4,000 Latino youth and adults with culturally appropriate alcohol use prevention messaging shared through digital communication channels, 1b) reach at least 8,000 Latino youth and adults with culturally appropriate alcohol use prevention messaging shared through printed messaging materials, 1c) deliver culturally appropriate alcohol use prevention resources through in-person outreach events and presentations to at least 1,500 Latino youth and adults, 1d) increase the perception of risk of alcohol use by four percent among Latino 8th, 10th, and 12th grade Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) students, 1e) increase the perception of parental disapproval of alcohol use by two percent among Latino 8th, 10th, and 12th grade ACPS students, 1f) increase the perception of peer disapproval of alcohol use by six percent among Latino 8th, 10th, and 12th grade ACPS students, 2a) increase the percent of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade ACPS students who report that they spend three or more hours per week participating in youth programs from 47% to 50%, 2b) increase the perception of risk of alcohol use by four percent among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade ACPS students, 2c) increase the perception of peer disapproval of alcohol use by six percent among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade ACPS students, 3a) reduce the percent of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade ACPS students reporting acquiring alcohol in the past month because someone gave it to them by three percent, 3b) reduce the percent of 8th and 10th grade ACPS students reporting acquiring alcohol in the past month because they got it at a party by three percent, 3c) reduce the percent of 10th and 12th grade ACPS students reporting acquiring alcohol in the past month because they bought it in a store or at a gas station by two percent, 3d) increase the percentage of retailers that pass alcohol compliance checks from 84% to 86%, 3e) ensure that on an annual basis, at least 40 businesses participate in prevention campaigns to promote the legal consequences of providing alcohol to minors, and 3f) decrease past 30-day alcohol use by two percent among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade ACPS students.

purpose of the Pontotoc County Drug Free Coalition (PCDFC) STOP Act Grant Program will serve to prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth and young adults ages 12 to 20 in Pontotoc County. Specifically, the goals and objectives of the program are as follows, as they relate to the areas in the statement of need. Need to be addressed: Community capacity and increased training on best practices. Goal 1: Increase coalition and community collaboration. Objective 1.1: Strengthen coalition capacity to address community issues by 10% via training provision by 9/29/28, as measured by coalition surveys. Objective 1.2: Increase community participation & collaboration perceptions by 10% by 9/29/28 as evidenced by coalition surveys & event documentation. Need to be addressed: 37.1% students, grades 6, 8, 10, and 12, reporting lifetime use of alcohol and early age of first use and community education. Goal 2: Reduce youth alcohol use. Objective 2.1: Decrease last 30 day use of alcohol by Pontotoc County youth by 5% by 9/29/28 as measured by Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment (OPNA) surveys. Need to be addressed: Easy social access and lack of comprehensive media campaigns. Objective 2.2: Increase number of parents reporting they secure alcohol in the home away from youth by 10% by 9/29/28, as measured by local parent surveys. Need to be addressed: Low perception of risk or harm. Objective 2.3: Increase youth perception of alcohol risk or harm by 5% by 9/29/28, as measured by OPNA surveys. Need to be addressed: easy retail access and infrequent compliance checks. Objective 2.4: Increase the number of alcohol establishments who are compliant during alcohol compliance checks by 10% by 9/29/28, as measured by compliance check records.

The Partners for Prevention in Allegany County project will prevent and reduce underage drinking by engaging local youth and partners to enhance the capacity of the coalition to increase the community's awareness of the negative consequences of underage drinking through multimedia campaigns, town hall meetings, and policy changes. PPAC will work with retailers and community event organizers to establish methods to comply with the law and reduce underage drinkers' access to alcohol. Young people from local schools will be involved in the project by helping develop messages that inform parents and adults in the community about the risk from underage drinking. School alcohol policies will be reviewed to include prevention and intervention as an alternative to punitive measures. The goal of the project is to prevent and reduce underage drinking among Allegany County youth aged 12 to 20. The project will reach approximately 2,050 middle, high school, and college students annually. The focus population for the project includes students living in rural areas coming from low-income families. Prevention programs will consider young people's development including adverse childhood experiences and trauma. The project will utilize Certified Recovery Peer Advocates who are available to schools to provide an understanding of the dynamics of addiction and recovery and promote telehealth opportunities throughout the county for community members to access to clinical services. The project has multiple objectives including increasing young people's perception of harm from drinking, increasing peer and parental disapproval of alcohol use, changing community norms related to underage drinking, and reducing access to alcohol by implementing responsible service practices and offering alternative positive activities in the communities. PPAC and the Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) will offer parents access to podcasts, blogs, social media campaigns, toolkits, and training. These activities will provide opportunities for increased citizen participation in prevention activities and interaction with governmental and private sector agencies from all sectors of the community that work with substance abuse issues.

NRG Legacy, Inc. is proposing a STOP (Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking) drug prevention project to help reduce the onset and progression of underage alcohol use and its related problems by supporting the development and delivery of community substance misuse prevention and promotion infrastructure and activities using the SPF in the Camden County, NJ community. The goals of the project are: decrease 30-day alcohol and tobacco use among youth and young adults through infrastructure policy change efforts affecting ease of access and consequences of use, decrease alcohol and tobacco availability and increasing capacity to support existing statewide policies; expand substance abuse and mental health prevention infrastructure through policy change efforts in schools and the medical community; increase parent participation in substance abuse/mental health prevention efforts as a protective factor through capacity and outreach education initiatives. The population of focus is Camden County area youth aged 20 and younger and their parents, who are 19% African American, 18.2% Hispanic/Latino, 11.6% Asian , 50.3% White, and 1.5% American Indian/Alaskan Native. 80% of residents speak English, 13% Spanish, 5% Asian-Pacific language, and 3% Indo-European. We expect to reach 6,000 youth over the 4-year grant period. NRG Legacy is a non-profit agency with expertise in forging strong community organization between family, school, community, and religious institutions to offer solutions which promote and support hope and resiliency. Our agency seeks to strengthen identified protective factors which create vibrant communities. Our project partners include a wide range of civic groups, health care systems, faith-based organizations, media, academic institutions, youth-serving organizations, law enforcement and state, local and federal agencies. NRG and its partners will accomplish these goals utilizing the Strategic Prevention Framework, rich in evidence-based best practices to create an implementation plan that serves the unique needs of our community. Our Strategic and Implementation Plans will inform our work to ensure this project serves all, and special focus will be placed on serving our residents experiencing reduced economic stability identified through school screenings and questionnaires. The action plan will include all Seven Strategies for Prevention and will be continually monitored for necessary changes to meet community needs. Continual assessment will allow us to identify areas and populations of greatest need and our planning will remain fluid to meet these needs. Evaluation will be conducted through student surveys, parent/community surveys and focus groups directed by our Project Data Analyst. Data will be shared with all community stakeholders through annual key findings reports and throughout the year to the greater community.

The Recovery Connect: Uniting Communities for Positive Change proposal by Simply Hope Family Outreach, Inc. (SHFO) will respond to the increased number of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Co-occurring Disorders (COD) in adults of the rural, underserved area of South-Central Idaho, specifically Cassia and Minidoka Counties (Mini-Cassia). The project will enroll 215 adults over the three-year funding period, providing: Peer Recovery Support Services through Codependency and Recovery Support meetings; Positive Action Family classes, access to services through intake, screening, assessments, and connections to important services through community partnerships; and DUI Education classes for offenders with court requirements. In addition to the services provided to the adult population experiencing SUD/COD, SHFO will hold community outreach events to increase awareness, train in harm reduction, and reduce the stigma attached to SUD/COD. Events such as the Mental Health and Me Master Classes, Family Resilience Carnival, and the Healing Grieving Hearts Butterfly Release, will educate the community and increase understanding and recovery opportunities. In 2018, the CDC showed opioid prescriptions for Cassia County at 82.4 per every 100 persons. With the opioid crisis bringing monitoring and limiting of prescriptions following the crisis, many people were left experiencing addiction without help. The Mini-Cassia area is vast (nearly twice the size of Rhode Island) and entirely rural with catchments listed as remote. The 2020 Census reports the area as primarily white (65.5%) with a growing Hispanic population (31.6%). The region also includes a portion of the 35,000 undocumented immigrants who work in agriculture. Rural dialects of Spanish increase the language barrier which increase barriers to services. These marginalized populations struggle with acceptance, stigma, and often other mental health issues and many turn to substance use. Many lack the understanding of the workings of the healthcare industry and basic civil rights. A diverse Board and staff at SHFO have representation from these vulnerable populations and are prepared to serve cultural sensitivity and respect. Additionally, 64% of SHFO’s staff have “lived experience” in SUD and/or COD. With services rooted in prevention, recovery, and mental health, the Recovery Connect program by SHFO will assist participants in becoming more resilient in their recovery. Participants will receive tools for healing and have greater success in recovery and ultimately reintegration into a stronger community.

The Albuquerque Center for Hope and Recovery (ACHR) will use the Building Communities of Recovery (BCOR) funding to expand and enhance its well-established and trusted peer support services to residents in Bernalillo and Sandoval counties in New Mexico. These peer support services (PSSP) will be focused on an undiluted peer-led model to partner with ACHR members along their journey of recovery from mental health and/or co-occurring substance use challenges. PSS will be implemented through individual and group settings to inform Individual Wellness Plans.

In specific communities, access to recovery support services is severely limited, resulting in individuals repeatedly cycling through emergency healthcare services and relapsing into substance use, particularly opioids like fentanyl. Cheatham County, for instance, has witnessed a staggering increase in opioid-related deaths, with rates exceeding both state and national averages. The lack of treatment facilities and healthcare providers exacerbates the crisis, with no buprenorphine-waivered physicians until recently. Consequently, high-risk areas within Cheatham County will be targeted for intervention. Furthermore, the county's vulnerability to HIV and HCV outbreaks due to sociodemographic factors and substance use underscores the urgent need for comprehensive support services. The proposed project aims to address these challenges by identifying, engaging, and supporting individuals with substance use disorder, enhancing access to recovery services, and strengthening the local care system. Measurable objectives include increasing service access, reducing drug use, improving engagement and self-sufficiency, and alleviating mental health symptoms within the target population. Through these efforts, the project seeks to catalyze positive individual and systemic changes, ultimately fostering health, wellness, and recovery in Cheatham County's rural communities.

The proposed project is a continuation and expansion of a pilot project initially funded through NC state McKinsey & Company opioid settlement dollars. The Recovery Care Coordination program formally launched in May of 2023 serves individuals seeking recovery from substance use disorders (SUD). The pilot site at the Robeson County Detention Center, has shown significant results, engaging with more than 70 individuals screened positive for an SUD in less than a one-year period. The four central goals of the project include (1) continuing to reduce the number of fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the county by continuing the Recovery Care Coordination (RCC) Program; (2) strengthening the local Recovery and Peer Support network; (3) sustaining and enhancing the quality of services provided; and (4) enhancing data collection and reporting to inform quality improvements and sustainability efforts. The project will provide a host of services including ongoing employment, training and professional development for peer support specialist, contingency management, peer recovery support services, case management, housing support, transportation, mutual aid support groups, harm reduction, stigma education, and sober living activities. The project aims to serve 75 participants in year one, 100 in year two, and 125 in year three.

Project Name: Vegas Stronger’s Peer Support Initiative Summary and Demographics: Vegas Stronger, a nonprofit serving the Las Vegas Valley, will broaden access to peer recovery support services to (PRSS) individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) or co-occurring substance use disorder and mental disorders (COD) with a focus on Spanish-speaking adults. This will be achieved by hiring staff and implementing a program designed to provide PRSS including one-on-one and group services. Help Hope Home’s 2023 Point-In-Time results showed 6,566 people were experiencing homelessness in Southern Nevada. The survey revealed that 64% of the homeless population self-reported a disabling condition, and of those, 25% cited substance abuse and 29% cited mental health. There are three zip codes in the service area with a significant demand for services. Vegas Stronger is located in zip code 89101 and focuses on this zip code as well as the two adjacent zip codes, 89106 and 89030. This area contains a 57% Hispanic population and 49.85% Spanish-speaking households. Goals: #1 - Increase capacity for peer recovery support services by expanding evidence-based, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate services. #2 Enhance cultural competency within the program to address the diverse needs of underserved populations. #3 Assist with health insurance, poverty, unemployment, and lack of education by offering support systems. #4 Reduce overdose deaths, ED visits, and hospitalizations by distributing and providing training for fentanyl test strips and naloxone. Strategies: • Hire, train, and deploy three (3) Peer Specialists (one bilingual PS fluent in Spanish and English). • Provide peer support services. • Provide individual and group peer support to clients suffering from SUD/COD. • Conduct consistent and supportive outreach to inform the community about the program. • Increase access to care for Spanish-speaking populations by disseminating Spanish-language materials. • Distribute naloxone and fentanyl test strips to the community. Population and Number to be Served: Focus population includes Spanish-Speaking adults and people experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of being homeless with SUD or COD. One hundred and eighty (180) clients will be served in the first year. Two hundred and forty (240) will be served in subsequent years for a total of six hundred and sixty (660) individuals. By the end of the three-year period, access to PRSS for individuals with SUD or COD will be dramatically increased.

Over three years, Journey to New Life’s Recovery+Reentry (R+R) project will engage at least 360 individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), opioid use disorder (OUD) and/or co-occurring diagnoses (COD) who are reentering the community after incarceration. JTNL will address a gap in culturally appropriate SUD recovery services among the reentry population by providing peer recovery support services (PRSS), case management, employment services, stable housing plans and/or sober housing, and recovery support groups (including drop-in space and recovery events). The population of focus is adults ages 18+ who have reentered the community in the past three years and have SUD (including opioid use disorder [OUD]) and/or COD (co-occurring substance use and behavioral health disorders). Participants will be located in Jackson County, Missouri. Similar to local demographics, 64.42% of participants will be white, 22.79% will be Black, 1.78% will be Asian, 0.37% will be Native American/Alaska Native, 0.30% will be Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 3.67% will be some other race, and 6.68% will be multiple races. In addition, 9.58% will be Hispanic. Male and female distribution is expected to be relatively even, and while data are limited, less than 1% of participants are expected to report being LGBTQIA+. English is the primary language spoken by 94% of county residents. Economic characteristics for several key metrics are WORSE than both the state and national levels, including (1) lower median household income, at $65,169; (2) individuals living below poverty, at 13.88%; (3) uninsured status, at 11.57%; (4) property crimes, at 4,106 per 100,000; and (5) violent crimes, at 1,034.7 per 100,000. Recovery+Reentry will enroll 360 participants over three years—100, 120, and 140, respectively, by year. All clients will participate in services that are fully aligned with the BCOR-required activities. These include (1) peer recovery support services (PRSS), (2) training, supervision, and mentorship for peers providing PRSS and outreach to recruit new CPSs, (3) recovery support services such as PRSS, recovery case management, recovery groups and events, housing assistance, and employment seeking services, and (4) expand partnership networks. Allowable recovery housing is included. GOALS include: (1) Adopt an interdisciplinary “care team” model that simultaneously supports sustained SUD recovery and lasting community reintegration after incarceration. Core services include integrated peer recovery support services (PRSS), case management, recovery groups, community-building, and employment assistance. Sober housing and/or housing planning assistance is included, with the method dependent upon eligibility. (2) Increase the number of staff delivering services focused on recovery and reentry within 90 days of award. Skill up key staff by offering care team trainings throughout the grant period. (3) Increase the number of active and formally documented partnerships by at least 100% during the grant period. (4) Increase the number of clients in peer recovery support services and clients participating in monthly recovery/reentry groups, drop-in spaces, and community events. (5) At least 70% of participants (252 of 360 over three years) will formally complete the program in stable circumstances. (6) At least 70% of participants (252 of 360 over three years) will remain in the community (vs. incarceration) one year after they enroll.?(7) At least 90% of clients over three years will set and attain at least one individualized recovery goal during intensive engagement (324 of 360). Measures are aligned with SAMHSA's Four Major Dimensions of Recovery.