The Tempe Community Council STOP Act Project, facilitated by the Tempe Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking and Drug Use (Coalition), focuses on preventing underage drinking and problem drinking among youth ages 12-20 years living in Tempe, Arizona, or attending school or college in the Tempe, Kyrene School Districts or Arizona State University (ASU). The proposed project will enhance the capacity that was established through DFC funding and increase the Coalition’s effectiveness in addressing underage drinking by identifying contextual factors that contribute to underage drinking and problem drinking among youth ages 12-20 years. These results will occur through implementing evidence-based programs, education, and awareness activities and support opportunities that address attitudes and behaviors associated with youth alcohol use. The anticipated yearly reach is 60,000 adults and 12,000 youth.
Measurable objectives for this project include: (1) Strengthening cooperation, coordination and collaboration by 15% among all 12 sectors of the coalition, key government stakeholders and the citizens of the community to reduce alcohol use among youth and young adults; (2) Increasing knowledge and skills of Coalition members and key stakeholders by 25% on current best-practices in preventing underage drinking, trauma-informed approaches, youth resiliency building and addressing health inequities; (3) Increasing Coalition skills for using data-driven decision-making to respond to and prevent underage drinking and problem drinking by 20%; (4) Obtaining 10% increases in youth, parent and community member perception of the risks of underage drinking, problem drinking and combining alcohol with opioids; (5) obtaining a 5% decrease in youth accessing alcohol through local alcohol retailers; (6) obtaining a 20% increase in parent/caregiver skills to discuss the risks of underage drinking and ways to foster healthy coping strategies and resiliency skills with their youth and young adults; and (7) obtaining a 20% increase in resiliency, coping and stress management skills among high school youth.
Implementation strategies include providing information, building skills, changing consequences, and changing physical design through a 21 or Too Young campaign that includes a Sticker Shock campaign in local alcohol retailers. Additional strategies include student and parent/caregiver community education and training, utilization of the Botvin Life Skills Evidence-Based Program to increase life skills and develop youth resiliency skills and hosting the annual Champions for Youth event to publicly recognize youth and community members for their efforts to prevent underage drinking in the Tempe community.