Wilkes Youth Life Development- Strategic Prevention Framework- Partnerships for Success - The WYLD SPF-PFS Project focuses on youth ages 8 to 18 years old in Wilkes County, North Carolina, with an emphasis on engaging economically disadvantaged youth, Hispanic youth, and local school-aged youth. The primary goals of the project are to decrease youth substance use by implementing evidence-based programs and practices and to enhance community-level infrastructure to prevent and reduce the initiation and progression of substance use and related problems. Wilkes County has a population of approximately 66,186 individuals, with 19.7% under the age of 18. The county's racial/ethnic composition is 92.1% White, 4.8% Black/African American, and 7.6% Hispanic/Latino. The community faces challenges typical of rural areas, such as poverty, lack of transportation, and limited access to mental health and substance use services. The project employs a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach utilizing the Strategic Prevention Framework, CADCA's seven strategies for effective community change, CSAP's six strategies, and SAMHSA's principles of trauma-informed care. Key interventions include implementing evidence-based programs such as Positive Action and teen Mental Health First Aid, establishing the InDepth Alternative to Suspension program for youth with vaping-related school offenses, and launching a Forest School Program to foster positive environments and peer connections. Additional strategies include providing transportation to enhance access to weekly Teen Action Council (TAC) meetings and community events, developing and disseminating culturally appropriate materials in Spanish, and engaging youth and community partners in planning, implementation, and evaluation through TAC. By 2030, the project aims to increase the perception of harm of vaping by 5% and decrease past 30-day use of vaping by 5%. By 2026, it plans to train 600 high school students in teen Mental Health First Aid, increase youth awareness of local mental health and substance use services, grow participation in the Teen Action Council by 10%, and train 40 youth in the Positive Action program. Additionally, the project will establish agreements with Wilkes County Schools and other youth-serving organizations to implement the InDepth Alternative to Suspension program. Further objectives include certifying two staff members as Prevention Specialists and training staff in tobacco cessation strategies. The project aims to serve 300 youth annually through direct intervention programs and engage an additional 1,500 individuals annually through community outreach and education efforts. Over the five-year project period, WYLD anticipates directly serving 1,500 youth and reaching approximately 7,500 community members through indirect services and awareness initiatives.
