Sunday, May 12, 2024
5/12/2024
The DART Prevention Coalition will collaborate with community partners across all twelve sectors to reduce the rate of underage drinking and the misuse of prescription drugs across the lifespan in the townships of Brick and Toms River, NJ. Applying the Strategic Prevention Framework and CADCA's 7 Strategies for Community Change, DART will identify the root causes and address the local conditions of youth alcohol use and prescription medication misuse by implementing evidence-based environmental strategies. As the second and third largest municipalities in Ocean County, New Jersey, the towns of Brick and Toms River have a combined total of 166,898 residents, living in mostly single-family detached suburban homes. It is estimated that all will be impacted by this project both annually and across the life of this project. Toms River Township has a population of 91,415 residents, of whom approximately 83% identify as white alone, 8% as Hispanic or Latino, 4% as Asian, and 3% as black. Of these residents, 26.8% are under the age of 18 and 18.7% are age 65 or older. The median household income in Toms River is $76,167 and 6.4% of the population is living in poverty. The Toms River Regional School District serves over 16,000 students in 12 elementary schools, three intermediate schools, and three high schools. Brick Township has a population of 75,667 residents, of whom approximately 85% identify as white alone, 10% as Hispanic or Latino, 2% as black, 2% as Asian. The median household income in Brick is $73,051 and 6.4% of the population is living in poverty. The Brick Township School District serves over 10,000 students in eight elementary schools, two intermediate schools, and two high schools. Almost 25% of all residents of Ocean County are over the age of 65, with high concentrations living in Brick and Toms River. Key informants report that individuals often take prescription medications from the homes of their senior relatives or senior homes they enter for business. DFC Goal One: Increase community collaboration - Objective 1: Increase meeting attendance and member engagement through targeted outreach to parents and other sectors by varying meeting times; conduct periodic and thorough new member orientation and continued one-on-one contact to ensure sustainability. DFC Goal Two: Reduce youth substance abuse - Objective 1: Reduce retail access to alcohol among 8th, 10th and 12th grade students by educating merchants on responsible beverage serving, proper ID check and NJ Alcoholic Beverage Control and Motor Vehicle Commission compliance; advocate for municipal level ordinances and organizational policies to support the same; Objective 2: Reduce social access to alcohol among 8th, 10th and 12th grade students by educating parents and youth age 21 and up on NJ Social Host laws and municipal Private Property ordinances; advocate for strict enforcement to support the same; Objective 3: Increase perception of risk among 8th, 10th and 12th graders related to non-medical use of prescription drugs as measured by supporting and maintaining Youth Prevention Coalitions in six secondary schools in Brick and Toms River; train students on the Strategic Prevention Framework and CADCA's 7 Strategies for Community Change to implement environmental policy in their home schools; train the trainer to deliver messaging to young athletes, coaches, trainers, and parents on the dangers of prescription drug misuse and proper disposal; and Objective 4: Increase access to prescription drug dropboxes by Brick and Toms River residents through targeted outreach to older adult communities, funeral homes, prescribers, retail pharmacies and real estate agents and brokers on the dangers of prescription drug misuse, proper disposal and securing all current medication.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
