Goal 1:  Coalition Development

• The Coalition will continue to encourage collaboration among agencies involved in prevention and the effective braiding of funding and resources where possible.
• The Coalition has made considerable progress in this goal, developing a broad community membership and excellent working relationships with other coalitions and groups within the county.  Community needs have been identified using our local data, and model, outcome-based programming identified to address them.  The Coalition has outlined a comprehensive community prevention approach, targeting schools, families, and the general public for increased awareness of substance abuse and its consequences, education on risk and harm—personal, to the family, and community and broad environmental strategies focusing on legislative and structural changes to reduce access, particularly to minors, and increase vendor compliance.

• Local law enforcement agencies have played a central role in coordinating tobacco and alcohol compliance checks, and vendor education.  Local students have participated as youth decoys, and several school groups- SADD, Honors Society, Student Councils, Asset Teams, have worked on a coordinated Reducing Underage Drinking Initiative.
• Mid-Michigan District Health Department has been instrumental in collecting data, providing assistance in analysis and interpretation of survey results, participating in raising public awareness, and most recently, helping to create a soon-to-go-live Coalition website.
• The Department of Human Services is supporting the development of a parent education substance abuse prevention component that will be available for integration into all existing parenting efforts and school programs.
• The Clinton County Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Council (CAN Council) is partnering with the Coalition this year to offer a new model program for parents and the community, Staying Connected with Your Teen.
• In past years, the CAN Council has sponsored- workshops, seminars and a March Parenting event, but after discussing evidence-based programming and local needs have identified this program, as a vital component in prevention.
• Every member of the Coalition and the agencies they represent—who attend monthly meetings, bring new ideas and support for prevention, analyze data and trends in our communities, listen to clients and see the damage that substance abuse can wreak on children, families and communities.  We truly appreciate your commitment.

Goal 2:   Data Collection

• Data will continue to be gathered from our previously identified sources to establish baselines and contribute trend data on alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, methamphetamine and OTC/Prescription drugs use in Clinton County.
• PNA and MiPHY survey results will be analyzed and used to inform decisions regarding program selection for school-based programming.
• Law enforcement information on arrests, Court case information, and ER visit data will contribute to tracking use rates and trend data.

Goal 3:   Alcohol

• Underage Alcohol Compliance Checks of local alcohol vendors-in addition to an OHSP Grant to Sheriff’s Department, will address reducing underage youth access, and vendor education will continue to inform business owners and their staff of regulations and license format changes.

Goal 4:   Tobacco

• Underage Tobacco Compliance Checks of Clinton County vendors with Law Enforcement, and vendor education will address underage youth access to tobacco.
• Annual federally-mandated Synar Youth Compliance Checks of selected Clinton County establishments selling tobacco, will provide the sale rate of tobacco to underage youth for our county.
• Find funding and coordinate Tobacco Cessation Classes in the county.

Goal 5:  Methamphetamine, Marijuana, and Prescription/OTC Drug Use

• Raise public awareness and collect county use and arrest data.
• Collaborate with regional and State initiatives.

Overall Coalition Objectives for 2008/2009:

• Coordinate substance abuse prevention programming using a school-based approach, Interactive Journaling/ Life Skills, which supports newly revised substance abuse policies in many county schools.  Work closely with the Alternative Education programs efforts to strengthen their substance abuse policies, and raise awareness among parents of the multiple consequences of early onset drug use among teens, through a parent-focused model prevention program, Staying Connected with Your Teen, to be offered at various sites throughout the county during the coming year.
• Encourage community collaboration and efforts to address substance abuse issues in the county.  Apply for additional funding to support needed services and programs to address substance abuse problems in Clinton County.  Apply for Drug-Free Communities Grant in April 2009.
• Work collaboratively to raise public awareness of substance abuse issues in county and costs to citizens.  Demonstrate the effectiveness of prevention and treatment efforts.
• Support wellness efforts and health initiatives in other organizations and agencies, such as Mid-Michigan Tobacco Reduction Coalition, Clinton County on the Move, Healthy Communities Coalition, Safe and Drug-Free Schools committees, MADD and SADD.
• Continue to grow and expand as a Coalition, and to invite participation from all sectors of the county.