Beaverhead County STOP Act - Be The Change 406 Coalition’s STOP Act work plan is strategically designed to allow us to provide an effective dose of comprehensive and complementary evidence-based strategies both individually and environmentally-focused to reduce youth binge drinking in Beaverhead County, Montana. Our mission is to utilize multi-pronged, collaborative, evidence-based and environmental approaches to implement prevention and intervention strategies that foster a culture of health for youth and families in Beaverhead County and support a lifestyle free of substance use and abuse. The coalition employs evidence-based strategies, utilizing SAMHA’s SPF, the Seven Strategies for Community Change and other proven models as we work in the community. Utilizing a public health approach, we seek to change the environment of Beaverhead County to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors for underage drinking. This includes supporting policy changes, working to change community norms, and supporting a culture in which youth alcohol use does not exist. Ultimately, as our mission statement underscores, the Coalition seeks to create a culture of health in our community where all youth are thriving in families and supported to maintain an alcohol-free lifestyle. Goal 1: Increase partnerships, stakeholder buy-in and communication about preventing underage drinking in Beaverhead County. Objective 1.1: Ensure coordination of efforts in response to underage drinking by networking with and creating new partnerships with at least 12 new sector representatives that share the goal of preventing underage drinking by September 28, 2025 as measured by coalition member roster. Objective 1.2: Inform, educate and empower Beaverhead County to change the social norms and community conditions that facilitate alcohol and drug use by hosting at least 4 Town Hall Meetings reaching at least 250 people by 9/28/25 as measured by coalition database and number of community members in attendance. Objective 1.3: Increase community awareness of vision, mission, and action of Be the Change 406 by distributing a media campaign that reaches at least 2000 people by September 28, 2025, as measured by campaign reach in the coalition database. Objective 1.4: Increase the knowledge and understanding of local AOD issues and conditions through research, collaboration, and participation in community events by participating in at least 10 community events by September 28. 2025 as measured by coalition events in the coalition database. Objective 1.5: Increase healthy activities and decrease substance misuse among youth by hosting at least 12 family friendly youth events by September 25, 2025 as measured by coalition events in the coalition database. Objective 1.6: Increase the capacity of community leaders and organizations to ensure the provision of effective and evidence-based services responsive to community needs by reaching at least 100 youth through a youth summit by June 1, 2025 as measured by coalition events in the coalition database. Goal 2: Reduce binge drinking among youth, grades 8, 10, and 12 in Beaverhead County by 3% from 14% in 2022 to 11% by September 29, 2029 as measured by the PNA Student Survey. Objective 2.a.: Increase perception of parental disapproval for alcohol use among youth, grades 8, 10, and 12 in Beaverhead County by 3% from 88.5% in 2022 to 91.5% by September 29, 2027 as measured by the PNA Student Survey. Objective 2.b.: Increase perception of risk among youth, grades 8, 10, and 12 in Beaverhead County by 14.7% from 59.3% in 2022 to 74% by September 29, 2027 as measured by the PNA Student Survey. Objective 2.c.: Decrease perception of easy access among youth, grades 8, 10, and 12 in Beaverhead County by 6% from 39.3% in 2022 to 33% by September 29, 2027 as measured by the PNA Student Survey.
