Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Coalition for Healthy and Safe Communities - The Sussex County Coalition for Healthy and Safe Communities (SCCHSC), a program of the Center for Prevention and Counseling, is a former DFC funded Coalition, that is in its 24th year of providing services in Sussex County. Our mission is to build a stronger, healthier Sussex County by preventing and reducing youth substance use. The SCCHSC is the first of nearly three generations of DFC grant funds within our Agency. This project will enhance the SCCHSC work allowing for greater attention to be focused on reducing youth alcohol use by strengthening the Strategic Prevention Framework, which include assessment, capacity building, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The Coalition is a well-recognized resource for all sectors of the community looking for information and programs regarding youth substance use, youth violence and most important, Prevention Tools!
This proposal is specific to Hopatcong (HOPA), NJ which is located in Sussex County, and borders Morris, the 2nd most affluent County in NJ. HOPA is 12 square miles, and is home to the largest lake in NJ, Lake HOPA. HOPA is a residential community with a mix of suburban neighborhoods and lakefronts properties. The population being served are young people between the ages of 12 to 20, and the adult population that serve them. STOP activities would serve over 1500 youth annually and over 6000 young people over the 4 years of funding. In addition to influencing over 2,000 adults each year, with a lifetime reach of 8,000.
Being awarded the STOP Grant would allow SCCHSC to enhance, not replace, the capacity the coalition has established & would increase the Coalition’s effectiveness addressing underage drinking in this community. Data collection from Winter 2024 ISA survey, illustrates a need to address underage drinking in HOPA. Historically, CFPC has been providing prevention services for over 50 years and has seen the impact of our work. 30-day use of alcohol has trended down in lockstep with national numbers. However, ISA core measure data shows a disturbing trend in the norms and behaviors around youth use of alcohol in HOPA as it compares to our County. 2024 survey results reveal 16% of HOPA students reported using alcohol in the past 30 days indicating a 56% increase over Sussex County average of 11%. Additionally, 66% of students perceived harm around underage drinking as compared to the county-wide 72%. This data illustrates a need to increase our efforts in HOPA.
The 1st proposed goal is to Strengthen Community Collaboration to Reduce Underage Drinking. Objective 1: Develop STOP Task Force and grow by 10% as measured with meeting rosters from 2024-2025. Strategy 1 – Expand and increase the coalition’s ability to address underage drinking in the community; Strategy 2 – Increase data collection to capture parent perceptions as they compare with community youth; Strategy 3 – Enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts as it relates to addressing underage drinking and Strategy 4 - Build an Asset-Rich community where youth can thrive using Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets.
The 2nd proposed goal is to Reduce Youth Alcohol Use. Objective 1 – Increase by 10% the perception of harm around youth alcohol use as being “wrong” or “very wrong.” Strategy 1 & 2 are: Provide resources & tools for community stakeholders to become engaged in addressing underage drinking and enhance intergovernmental cooperation and coordination on the issue of youth alcohol use. Objective 2 – Increase by 10% the perception of parent disapproval for 6th – 12th graders of youth alcohol use as being “wrong” or “very wrong.” Strategy 1: create awareness about the problem of underage drinking and provide parents with tools and resources. Obj 3 – Increase by 10% the perception of friend disapproval for 6th -12th graders of youth alcohol use as being "wrong" or "very wrong". Strategies also include creating opportunities for youth to address underage drinking.
