Wednesday, January 15, 2025
1/15/2025
STAY FREE is a community based prevention project in the coastal region of San Diego County, designed to prevent or reduce underage alcohol use among youth aged 12-20, including targeted youth populations - Latinos and Asians, with an emphasis on post high school and community college students - utilizing 1) Adoption of environmental public policies that counteract permissive community norms and problematic alcohol related commercial and social practices and 2) Creation of youth led educational programs that interrupt youth norms towards the acceptability of alcohol use by their peers, and permissive attitude of parents and other community members. California Health Kids Survey (CHKS) results and San Dieguito for Drug Free Youth (SDA) Coalitions college aged (18 to 20) survey indicates that the targeted youth in our region have one of the highest alcohol use rates in the county. Law enforcement data showing 25% of retail licensees have sold to underage youth, demonstrates further need for environmental intervention. Project Goals are to encourage youth (12 to 20) to STAY FREE of alcohol use by 1) Educating both high school and college youth regarding the harms of alcohol use by engaging them in expanded local prevention activities and assessments, and educating their parents and community members, 2) Implementing environmental prevention policies that change community norms: Social Host (SHO) and Responsible Beverage Sales and Service (RBSS) ordinances. Project Objectives are to 1) Increase the number of high school and college student-led prevention groups, some with mentor outreach to junior high and elementary schools, on and off high school and college campuses; 2) Train students to assess alcohol licensees, regarding alcohol-related business practices, such as sales to minors, and problematic advertising and marketing directed to youth and specific ethnic communities; 3) Conduct minor decoy operations in partnership with law enforcement; 4) Organize parent awareness activities including Town Halls, and Start Smart drivers education classes that include parent participation with students; and 5) Develop student-led media awareness campaigns to inform high school and college students, parents and the larger community, with emphasis on the targeted Spanish and Asian communities - regarding assessment and survey results. The estimated number served: 3,000 youth, aged 12 to 20 and 1,500 parents, and 2,000 community members. TOTAL 6,500 individuals yearly; 26,000 over the project.
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).