CHANGING YOUTH ATTITUDES (on Underage Alcohol Use) - Abstract: . Casey Youth Coalition, a youth-led, adult-guided group in Liberty, KY, will implement a 4-year project to address cultural change around underage youth alcohol use. The project name is “Changing Youth Attitudes on Alcohol Use”. Casey Youth Coalition will take the lead for planning & implementation with guidance from 2 advisors, Project Director and Coordinator, and Casey County KY ASAP’s volunteer committees on underage drinking and youth support. This project’s goals/objective/activities are a much-needed cultural change & an addition to Casey County’s present DFC Action Plan; & will target 1150 students in grades 6-12 (450 households) and the entire adult population in Casey County, KY. “Cultural Change is necessary to prevent & reduce underage drinking” (Surgeon General’s Call to Action) Demographics/Clinical Characteristics: We are a rural, Appalachian area in south central KY: Casey County. We are 98% white, dry (no alcohol sales), plus an 8th grade student died from alcohol poisoning 2 years ago at a common place,field party. The population is 15,808, 23% under 18, median income is $30,000 (2018 Quickfacts). Historically, Kentuckians make bourbon & moonshine (8 bourbon distilleries within 1.5 hrs travel). All surrounding counties are wet (alcohol sales). 20% of 8th graders, 19% of 10th graders, and 33% of 12th graders think there is ‘no risk or slight risk’ if people drink alcohol every day (1 or 2 drinks). 30% of 12th graders have used alcohol within the past 30-days (2018 KIP School Survey) and this number doubled from 10th (2016 KIP) to 12th grade (2018 KIP). 28% of 12th graders state they drink at parties (5% increase 2016 KIP) Goal One: Decrease youth alcohol us in Casey County by implementing activities/projects within the schools to address social norming & risk/harm issues around underage drinking. Objective 1.a.: By the end of the school year 2020, Casey Youth Coalition (CYC) will complete and market a Photo Voice Project about youth alcohol use to youth in grades 6-12 in Casey County. Obj. 1.b.: By the end of the school year 2021, CYC will have completed & marketed a Social Norming Campaign. Obj. 1.c.: By the end of the school year 2022, CYC will have completed and marketed a risk/harm message campaign for youth alcohol use to grades 6-12. Obj. 1.d: By the end of the school year 2023, CYC will have completed and marketed a video PSA about risk/harms of youth alcohol use to grades 6-12 & adults in the community. Obj. 1.e.: By the end of the school year 2020 (and ongoing), CYC and Casey County KY ASAP Coalition will have completed & marketed a plan to address laws/consequences around youth alcohol use on private property (farm/field parties), partnering with law enforcement to target youth in grades 6-12 and landowners. Strategy/Interventions: 1) To provide information, support & enhance skills of the Coalition, the community, & local/state/federal agencies to increase collaborative efforts to prevent/reduce underage drinking among youth/young adults; 2) Provide information/support to & enhance skills of youth/ adults to reduce/prevent youth alcohol use. People to be Served, (annually/project lifetime): 1150 youth/5100 adults; 4600 youth/20,400
