North River Prevention Partners (NRPP) has been working to reduce substance use and abuse in the North River Communities of Manatee County since 2015, and with the project "Supportive Community, Healthy Kids", NRPP will expand and enhance efforts to reduce underage alcohol use by youth ages 12-20. A 2019 Drug Free Communities grantee, NRPP will use strong community partnerships to continue positively impacting community norms, increasing awareness and enforcement of existing laws, and reducing access and availability.
During the pandemic, NRPP used Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) processes to identify underage drinking as a significant concern in northern Manatee County and, rather than wait for it to become an emergent need, NRPP has worked ahead of the problem to build our prevention capacity by leveraging resources through strong partnerships and collaborations, developing and monitoring a strategic plan, implementing effective community prevention programs, and evaluating these efforts for success.
The proposed project activities include expanding Safe Festival training and Know the Law, increasing the number of Let's Talk townhall-style events, updating and expanding the Parents Who Host, Lose the Most media campaign, and enhancing the positive impact the North River Youth Coalition (NRYC) has on their peers and their community via social media, television, and streaming services. This project will build on our success (as evidenced in the 15% reduction of 30-day alcohol youth use rates in Manatee County from 2018 to 2020) by further reducing 30-day use rate by 5%, increasing peer disapproval by 3%, and perceived parental disapproval by 3% (from 2020 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS) baselines to 2024). The project will also
enhance NRPP's Drug Free Communities strategies by increasing and strengthening community collaborations; increasing the reach of NRPP-branded media campaigns; enhancing social media marketing activities to expand the discussion about underage drinking; applying policy-based solutions when appropriate; providing technical assistance to community organizations and agencies in their efforts to reduce underage alcohol use; and by reducing social/ cultural risk factors that encourage youth alcohol use.
NRPP serves more than 52,000 residents in ZIP codes 24219, 34220, 34221, and 34222. The population is diverse: 12% are African American/ Black, more than 16% are Hispanic, and almost 68% are White. Additionally, more than 7% identify as multiracial. There are two public high schools (grades 9-12), one public charter middle/ high school (grades 6-12), six public elementary schools (grades pre-K- 5), one public elementary/ middle school (grades Pre-k- 8), and three public charter elementary/ middle schools (Pre-k-8).
"Supportive Community, Healthy Kids" conforms to the Surgeon General's 2007 "Call to Action on Underage Drinking" that asks for a developmentally sensitive approach recognizing the complex social and cultural systems that influence teens. NRPP's planned project also aligns with SAMHSA Strategic initiatives that call for using a comprehensive mix of evidence-supported prevention strategies to build social connectedness, community cohesion, and strengthen families. Through the successful implementation of these activities with current and ongoing efforts, NRPP will reduce North River's youth alcohol rates by 5% and rally our community to support our kids in the quest for better health outcomes.
