The Mission of Compass Coalition Unity Through Strength and Diversity - Compass Unity Coalition Project Abstract Project Title: `Compass Unity Through Strength and Diversity Objective: To reduce underage youth alcohol consumption and marijuana misuse, also in adults. The Coalition will work to increase protective factors related to decreasing occurrences of underage drinking and marijuana use and decrease risk factors that contribute to underage drinking, and marijuana use among youth and their parents. Increase educational prevention with workshops, activities, and peer-to-peer mentoring programs. The Coalition through performance surveys will increase and update educational resources and evidence-based activities and curriculums, with adding translations in Spanish. Forge partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and government agencies to enhance the reach and impact of prevention efforts in the community and schools. Methods: Implement monthly interactive parent workshops in schools and community centers to educate families about the risks associated with underage drinking misuse. Topics include the physical and mental health consequences, and healthy coping strategies. Create QR code for Parents to receive educational resources. Families can participate in our Operation Pizza Box event, where the youth place Anti-Drug messages and resource stickers on pizza boxes in local pizzerias and in liquor stores to raise awareness of underage alcohol use and marijuana misuse. Especially during Graduations, Prom Season and other events in the community. Provide training to youth coalition members to provide informational tabling materials at local school events and community centers. Distribute educational materials, train sectors to participants in workshops, and provide resources for further support and assistance. Increase training and education for a peer-to-peer mentoring program where trained youth leaders provide guidance and support to their peers regarding substance abuse prevention. Conduct training sessions for mentors and facilitate regular peer support meetings. Social Media campaigns that include facts about underage alcohol use and strategies for parents to address such use among their children Coalition Staff Youth Coalition. Increase translation of underage alcohol use and prevention information into Spanish. Increase Youth involvement with peer-to-peer mentoring programs. Annual Community Environmental Scanning, Operation Pizza, Alcohol Initiative, and Red Ribbon Week events will take place to ensure safety for youth in the community. Purchase, install and update new vape detectors in all bathrooms and locker rooms in the Bellport Middle and High School. Findings: South Country School District has a significant increased rate of substance use among adolescents, especially with alcohol and marijuana use. There's a high prevalence of underage drinking, with youth consuming alcohol at alarming rates in the South Country area. Through evaluations and measurement of Environmental Scans, YDS Surveys and Focus Group Listening Session Surveys, the data results has shown marijuana and underage alcohol use within the target populations of Spanish speaking youth, youth with learning disabilities, the LGBTQ population, and youth with hardships and mental disorders. Conclusion: To reduce underage alcohol use and substance use among youth, and over time, among adults through education and early prevention. Compass Unity will actively create a culture of acceptance, respect, support, and resources that will give our youth the knowledge to not engage in underage alcohol or marijuana and to live a drug-free successful lifestyle. Decrease in substance use among youth over time and overtime reduce substance use in adults through prevention. Increase comprehensive prevention strategies, including policy advocacy, enforcement efforts, and community-wide communication to change norms and attitudes surrounding substance use
