PACT Coalition for Safe and Drug Free Communities (PACT) will identify, establish, and implement relevant evidence-based community approaches that will expand and increase the coalition's ability to address underage drinking in the community as well as strengthen community collaboration to reduce alcohol use among youth. PACT will focus on the 89146-zip code, near the 89144- zip code currently served under DFC funds, but in an underserved community. PACT is working with Bonanza High School, utilizing an evidence-based program in school. As a Title 1 school, Bonanza is recognized as having a high number of students who come from economically disadvantaged situations. According to the 2021 and 2022 Accountability Report, 2,082 students attend Bonanza with the following racial demographics: 58% Hispanic, 15% Black, 15% White, 5% Pacific Islander, 5% two or more races, 3% Asian, and 3% Native American. Bonanza High School student body is composed of a minority majority, meaning most students identify as Black, Latino, Indigenous, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islanders. As defined by Executive Order 13895 referenced in the notice of funding, 89146 meets the definition of an underserved community. Additionally, Bonanza High School is ranked number 68th out of 72 high schools in Clark County. This ranking is based on state-required tests, graduation and how well they prepare students for college. Rates of poverty are likewise amplified within CCSD's demographics. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, CCSD is reported as having 18.3% of 5 to 17 year olds living in poverty in 2018.
This grant application focuses on three goals, goal 1: PACT will work to assess students and their families to understand the social norms around underage drinking and develop a prevention plan specific to these findings. Goal 2 is PACT will work to reduce opportunities for underage drinking by reducing access and availability. Goal 3 is PACT will collect and analyze the local conditions specific to underage drinking among students at Bonanza High School by conducting listening sessions with the students and then develop a prevention plan strengthen enforcement efforts and address penalties of underage drinking, ensuring harmful, punitive consequences are avoided. PACT will identify, establish, and implement relevant evidence-based community approaches that will expand and increase the coalition's ability to address underage drinking in the community by engaging instructors in the Clark County School District (CCSD) to implement an evidence-based program at Bonanza High School. Using practices and initiatives such as evidence-based programs that have been proven to reduce alcohol use among youth will help to complete our goal to increase awareness of the prevalence and risks of underage drinking and substance use to youth and parents of underrepresented communities in Clark County to reduce barriers. PACT will enhance intergovernmental cooperation and coordination on the issue of alcohol use among youth and young adults through the creation or enhancement of policies that reduce youth's ability to use alcohol furthermore, we are a community in need of more strict enforcement of penalties for those who continue to sell alcohol to youth.
PACT Coalition will strengthen collaboration among communities, the federal government, state, local, and tribal governments to reduce alcohol use among youth and young adults. PACT will disseminate timely information to communities regarding state-of-the-art practices and initiatives that have proven to be effective in preventing and reducing alcohol use among youth.