Friday, May 3, 2024
5/3/2024
Project Description: Grant Continuation Application Year Seven Prevent Together: Battle Ground Prevention Alliance originated from the Battle Ground School District’s Safe and Drug Free School Initiative, comprised of regional professionals from healthcare, youth mentoring programs, faith-based communities, law enforcement personnel, public health officials, student support programs and county based substance abuse prevention coalitions. The coalition became an official mentee under the Drug Free Communities Mentoring Program in 2012. Prevent Together was awarded a Drug Free Communities grant in September 2014. When the coalition first began, there were many urgent concerns in the Battle Ground community. There were nine fatal alcohol related deaths in 2007 and 2009 and a youth heroin overdose around that time, There had been a high incidence of teen suicide in the Battle Ground community. From 2011 -2013, Battle Ground lost seven youth to suicide. Between 2014 and July 2016, Battle Ground experienced four teen suicides, five documented suicide attempts and ten documented suicide threats. Collective community efforts addressing these issues has made significant progress in reducing these incidents. Prevent Together successful partnered with the City of Battle Ground, Police and Fire Departments, Battle Ground School District, Rocksolid Teen Center, and with strong representation from all twelve sectors, other coalitions in the region, and many other community partners to carry out the strategies of the grant through year five. In May 2019, Prevent Together applied for Years 6-10. During this process, there was a change in the fiscal agent from Clark County, Washington to the City of Battle Ground. The grant application was successful. The coalition was notified that they were awarded new funding for Years 6-10 on October 31, 2019. Prevent Together’s Vision is: A community who comes together to end substance abuse and promote positive healthy decisions. The coalition’s mission is: Together we will prevent and reduce youth substance abuse in the Battle Ground community by building resiliency, strengthening relationships and providing education for families and community members. The coalition serves the geographic area served by Battle Ground Public Schools. Spanning 273 square miles, it is one of the largest and most diverse geographic districts in the state serving a population of approximately 71,900 residents. The district supports more than 13,000 students. Our target population is Middle and High School youth, and their parents, as well as our partnerships with each of the sectors; and reaching the broader community with prevention information and education. Our primary goals are to reduce youth use of marijuana and tobacco (via vaping); increase perception of harm among youth, parents and community members of marijuana and tobacco (via vaping); Youth mental health including depression and suicide ideation continues to be of concern in our community. About 1/3 of Battle Ground’s 8th graders (28%) and two in five 10th graders (37%) report depression. The rate of depression among 10th graders has been increasing over the last decade. We know that youth substance abuse (self-medicating) is one of the ways our youth are coping with depression. We are confident that our strategies for substance abuse prevention are also supporting our youth in helping them feel connected and to make healthy decisions. We have been successful in developing a very strong and active Youth Prevention Team since the coalition started, engaging youth, listening to their voice, and training youth to educate their peers. Our coalition has also successfully reduced access to opiates via drug take back events held annually in April and October; which have been effective in the number of participants and in the quantity of pounds that have been received. These events have been complimented by Lock Your Med campaign initiatives. We are focused
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).
