Reducing alcohol, synthetic cannabinoids, and marijuana use by Webb County youth through education prevention strategies and enviornmental change. - WestCare Texas, Inc. (WC-TX) will serve as the lead applicant for the “DFC Families Assistance & Community Empowerment (F.A.C.E.) Coalition” project to increase the coalition’s capacity for community action with fiscal and organizational infrastructure. F.A.C.E. will reduce marijuana and prescription drug use among youth ages 18 and under in ZIP code 78046 (in Laredo, TX) through education and environmental change strategies. The total number of youth who live in the zip code is 26,041 (male and female). It is anticipated that we will impact about 10% of community youth (260 youth) during the first year of implementation, and thirty percent (7,812 youth) throughout the lifetime of the project. Demographics consists of 97% Hispanic/Latino, 2% White, <1% Black, <1% Asian, <1%, American Indian,
<1% Native Hawaiian, <1% multi-cultural. Only 10% of the population in this area speak English. As far as education is concerned, 47% of the population do not have a high school diploma, 40% have a high school diploma, 12% hold a Bachelors or Associate Degree, and 1% holds a Graduate degree. Thirty-nine percent (39%) of the population are under the age of 17. The goals of FACE are to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance misuse. Goals will be achieved by implementing these strategies: actively recruit new coalition members; enhance coalition capacity; develop a Youth Advisory Council and engage them in the project; conduct community trainings for key stakeholders, retailers, and coalition members. The objectives are to: reduce marijuana use (including synthetic marijuana) among 7-12th grade students at United Independent School District (UISD) by 3%; and to reduce underage drinking among 7-12th grade students at UISD by 3%.
