During the Coalition's history, it has faced many challenges, many having to do with community denial that local problems are as prevalent as stakeholders and data suggest. The Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families’ project will leverage previous success with a Drug Free Community initiative coupled with additional resources to develop a change using 7 strategies for community change, environmental prevention strategies, education and awareness. This model will be data driven to strengthen the capacity and infrastructure to reduce underage drinking and prescription use on a community level. Rockdale County, Georgia, is located 25 miles east of Atlanta with a population of 90,312 with 51.8% African Americans, 36.1% White, and 12.1% other. The public schools enroll 16,601 children in 23 schools with 18 classified as “high needs” with a free and reduced meal rate of 70.8%. The project will develop a data driven model consisting evidence base practices to reduce underage drinking, marijuana use among persons aged 9-20, as well as, the escalating issue of opioids and prescription drugs. The RCCF DFC will continue to work closely with Law Enforcement and contractor's on mandatory training for servers and owners of establishments who sell alcohol and drug paraphernalia. In Conyers, Rockdale County, the Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service is held monthly with an average attendance of 50. Compliance checks with local LE will continue, with celebrating those establishments who have 100% compliance each quarter by recognition through the local paper, social media and certificates of appreciation for their efforts to be alert and request ID for alcohol and tobacco products, including vaping. Our sticker shock program will continue in convenient and grocery stores. Our staff will work with partner agencies to bring EBP (Strengthening Families, Aggressive Replacement Training, Moral Recognition Training, Seven Challenges, Botvin's Lif
e Skills, Nurturing Parenting, Too Good for Drugs) into our schools and neighborhoods, juvenile court and housing authority as well as for parents who are incarcerated. Our staff will facilitate the 40 developmental assets to parents, school personnel, teachers, coaches, community leaders and partnering agencies. Our Project Director is an elected board member of Let's Be Clear, Ga., working on issues with marijuana and providing education and awareness to the community leaders, state leaders, teachers, youth, parents and other agency employees. Our mission to reduce and prevent youth substance use/abuse by increasing community collaboration, engage youth in pro-social activities, provide education, training and leadership support to parents, youth businesses and individuals in the Rockdale Community. Our DFC committee is strong and we are committed to our youth and families in Rockdale and throughout surrounding communities.
