Barnwell County ECHO Coalition will implement its Succeed and Thrive project to reduce youth substance abuse among 12-18 year olds in Barnwell County. - The Barnwell County ECHO Coalition seeks a five-year Drug-Free Communities Support grant (DFC) to strengthen existing coalition partnerships, expand the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) to mentor and train middle school students and reduce substance use among Barnwell County youth ages 12-18. By the end of year 5, decreased by 5% the 30-day past alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among Barnwell County youth ages 12-18 as measured by the bi-annual Communities that Cares (CTC) Student Risk Survey. The ECHO Coalition will be implementing a comprehensive strategy that addresses children and adolescents, families, and community-level risk and protective factors that influence youth substance use. The comprehensive plan is based on the latest research on best practices to reduce youth substance use. Funding in the amount of $125,000 for each of the five years is requested to implement the “Succeed and Thrive” project. Barnwell County is in the Low Country of South Carolina, surrounded by Allendale, Bamberg, Orangeburg, and Aiken Counties. Barnwell County has a population of 21,590, with 43.2% of families with children under 18 years of age living below the poverty line. Due to generational poverty, high unemployment rates, limited access to healthcare, and low economic development, these counties have been designated as Federal Promise Zones. Children and families in Barnwell County face significant health disparities related to substance use, limited access to care, low socioeconomic factors, chronic health conditions, and overall health behaviors. The numerous health disparities threaten the well-being of the county’s children and families putting them at a higher risk of developing chronic health and behavior problems. Efforts to reduce these disparities are essential for enhancing the well-being of children and families. The ECHO Coalition, in collaboration with its many community partners, will implement its “Succeed and Thrive” project, which integrates alcohol and drug prevention with healthy behavior promotion and youth leadership opportunities; strategies to reduce youth access to alcohol and tobacco products; promote policy change for violation of school policies around the use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana on school property; educate the community and parents on their role in preventing and reducing youth. The Youth Advisory Council's expansion will include the development of a middle school YAC. The YAC will provide peer-led prevention activities for their fellow students and the community. The Barnwell County ECHO Coalition and its Youth Advisory Council (YAC) are committed to working with community partners to improve the health outcomes of its youth and adults, creating a drug-free and thriving community where young adults want to live and raise their families. YAC members are a part of the ECHO Coalition and have been instrumental in creating policy change regarding their school’s tobacco/vape use policy. YAC members are also trained and part of the HYPE (Healthy Young People Empowerment) team, which focuses on increasing opportunities for active play and healthy foods for Barnwell County children and adolescents. In April 2024, the HYPE team collaborated with the Barnwell County HEALing Partners Coalition to conduct the HYPE tour at the three housing complexes in Barnwell County. The HPYE team engaged the children from the housing complexes in a series of outdoor games and provided a healthy snack during spring break to ensure they were active during their break from school. An estimated 200 children and families participated in the HYPE tour events.
