Gandara Stop Access Coalition - Gándara Mental Health Center, Inc., (Gándara) proposes expanding and strengthening the capacity of the STOP ACCESS Community Coalition (SAC), an established community-based youth and young adult substance use prevention coalition serving Springfield, Massachusetts (MA). For this grant opportunity, our target population of focus includes students in Grades 8-12 who are enrolled in the Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, and West Springfield Public Schools-ranging in ages from 13-21 and an 85% low-income population. The STOP ACCESS Community Coalition (SAC) will be able to continue to help direct community resources toward effective and coordinated solutions to reduce youth substance use such as cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco/tobacco-related products/electronic cigarettes. Reflecting the Communities That Care (CTC) model, the SAC will implement high-quality programs, practices, and policies that are recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and equity based as a means of improving behavioral health through the following goals and objectives: Decrease substance use among youth ages 13-21 enrolled in the Springfield, Holyoke and Chicopee Public Schools by implementing evidence-based activities in the community and school district that address behaviors that may lead to the initiation of use, resulting in a decrease in past 30-day use among 8th, 10th, and 12th Graders and an increase in the perception of risk of harm as measured in the 2026 and 2028 PNAS, and Increase protective factors among youth ages 13-21 enrolled in the Springfield, Holyoke and Chicopee Public Schools by implementing evidence-based activities in the community and school district as measured by the 2027 Youth Risk Behavior Survey-using the 2025 survey as a baseline. The STOP ACCESS Coalition plan for data collection and evaluation will determine whether program goals, objectives and outcomes, have been achieved, and to ensure alignment with community needs. Gándara will sponsor, review and implement a customized version of the Bach Harrison PNAS for the Springfield Public Schools (SPS), bi-annually. Data will be collected from SPS 8th, 10th, and 12th grade youth in 2024, 2026, and 2028, and include the four related data points: past 30-day use, perception of risk/harm and of parental and peer disapproval of use. Data will be analyzed and reported on by Bach Harrison L.L.C. and compares year-to-year change. Our PHIWM consultant will provide sub-category year-to-year comparison by race/ethnicity, gender, grades, schools, and other comparisons as requested. An average of 3,000 (51%) grade eligible youth will complete the survey/testing cycle, offering an accurate, meaningful statistical representation of the Coalition's geographical area. Throughout the grant period and beyond, the Program Director will conduct intentional capacity building with stakeholders who represent target populations and who can ensure successful programs are sustained within a larger community context. Long term commitment from communities and stakeholders is fostered by providing opportunities and pathways to participation including: Invitations to coalition membership; Engaging and collaborating with existing community group /initiatives; and providing town halls. By closely monitoring and improving the delivery of programs to ensure their effectiveness, the Program Director will continue to make course-corrections to prevention efforts and identify which practices are worth expanding upon and sustaining. Finally, by sharing evaluation findings with stakeholders, it will ensure targeted prevention interventions are sustained and effective.
