Community Youth in Action Drug-Free Communities Support Grant - COMMUNITY YOUTH IN ACTION Project Abstract The Community Youth in Action (CYA) DFC Project's mission is to "lower youth substance abuse in Southeastern Idaho through community collaboration by promoting positive involvement and sustainable prevention efforts." The Strategic Planning Framework process is used to develop an action plan and help find solutions to local problems. CYA's activities are prevention-oriented, trauma-informed, and equity-based. A comprehensive approach is used to create its strategies through the seven community change strategies. It will provide information through media campaigns, newsletters and presentations; build skills through trainings, parenting classes and responsible beverage server training; provide support, including, alternative activities for the high school students, support underserved youth at the Teen Center and provide parent support tips through, parenting classes, newsletters and social media; enhance access and reduce barriers by providing employing a Prevention Specialist, offering a safe space with free activities at the teen center and support a Senior Sober Graduation event; change consequences through partnering with SPaRC to use upstream prevention to address youth issues prior to citations and involvement with the Juvenile Justice System, supporting local Law Enforcement in community Compliance Check and Shoulder Tap operations, and encouraging school consequences with an education component; alter physical design with a summer party patrol for the foothills, encouraging law enforcement at student events and placing Be The Parent Banners and information at critical events; modify and change policy by encouraging enforcement and upgrades to school substance misuse policies to include education component, and referrals to SPaRC. With significant support and representation across all sectors of the community, the focus will be to reduce youth alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco use. We will increase youth, parents, peers, and community perception of harm, a crucial step in preventing substance abuse. We will also increase parent education, reduce youth in the juvenile justice system, and connect with local businesses to provide more drug-free alternatives for young people in Bonneville County, Idaho. The goals of the coalition are to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance use, with the aim of creating a safer and healthier environment for our youth. The CYA DFC Project has two goals: to increase community collaboration by increasing membership, providing leadership opportunities for youth, strengthening coalition capacity, and creating sustainability. The second goal is to reduce youth substance abuse by increasing the perception of harm, reducing access, and enhancing youth resiliency skills. CYA will achieve these goals by Increasing the Perception of Harm and Consequences of Youth Marijuana Use and Enhancing Youth Coping Skills by Providing Supervised Prosocial Opportunities during summer and after-school hours. CYA will provide prevention services to Southeastern Idaho in the areas of underage drinking, tobacco, and youth marijuana use. CYA services prioritize after-school programming, safe & sober activities, parent education, youth skill building, partnerships with Bonneville County Juvenile Probation, and specialty courts for high-risk youth.
