LEAD Phillipsburg: Learn, Educate, Advocate, Develop Drug Free Communities Coalition-STOP! Be Safe & Sober! - LEAD Phillipsburg: Learn, Educate, Advocate, Develop Drug Free Communities Coalition (LEAD-DFC) has established strong partnerships with key community stakeholders and demonstrated success in prevention initiatives that reduce youth substance misuse in the Town of Phillipsburg. The proposed STOP! Be Safe & Sober! project will expand LEAD-DFC’s capacity to implement and sustain comprehensive, evidence-based strategies that prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth and young ages 12-20 residing in Phillipsburg (ZIP: 08865). Phillipsburg is the largest, most densely populated, and most socioeconomically challenged municipality in Warren County, with a population of 15,291 residents. The community is also the county’s most diverse, with 66.7% identifying as Caucasian, 14.4% as Hispanic/Latino, and 12% as African American. The project addresses identified capacity gaps by expanding access to evidence-based prevention programming, increasing stakeholder training, enhancing youth engagement opportunities, and strengthening data collection and evaluation. The population of focus is approximately 3,300 youth and young adults ages 12-20 residing in in Phillipsburg with a balanced distribution of males and females. Although the population is not defined by clinical diagnosis, many youth experience anxiety, depression, trauma exposure, and early experimentation with substances. Local data indicates continued alcohol use concerns and elevated risk among youth. STOP! Be Safe & Sober! will implement evidence-based prevention strategies that strengthen protective factors, reduce youth access to alcohol, and increase engagement in positive, pro-social opportunities. Capacity-building activities include monthly LEAD-DFC Coalition Meetings, presentations to Town Council and other community groups, Town Halls and Teens Talk forums, expanded collaboration with community partners, and strengthened partnerships across sectors to enhance prevention services and engagement. STOP! Be Safe & Sober! includes two goals to enhance and expand Coalition efforts during the four-year project period. The first is to increase knowledge, awareness, and protective factors to reduce underage alcohol use among youth ages 12-20, as measured by 30-day past use survey data. To achieve this goal, three measurable objectives are necessary: 1. By September 29, 2030, provide evidence-based prevention curricula, awareness campaigns, and alternate activities that reach at least 150 youth annually within the catchment area. 2. By September 29, 2030, conduct four evidence-based trainings for parents, guardians, and community members to increase awareness of the risks of underage drinking. 3. By September 29, 2030, increase youth engagement in prevention efforts by 10% through participation in the iLEAD Youth Coalition. The second goal is to strengthen community collaboration to create sustainable strategies that prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth ages 12-20. Two objectives are necessary to achieve this goal: 1. By September 29, 2030, enhance coordination among key stakeholders to complete a biannual review of policies related to underage drinking in the targeted municipality. 2. By September 29, 2030, increase community participation in prevention efforts by 10% through the expansion of LEAD-DFC Coalition membership and engagement of representatives from all sectors.
