Tuesday, June 17, 2025
6/17/2025
SAFE in Northern Michigan - SAFE in Northern Michigan serves Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet counties, which are located in the State’s rural “ring finger” region. Two-lane highways (there are no interstates) wind around inland lakes, ski hills, and golf resorts, connecting nine villages and five small cities. Despite the affluence evident in parts of the lakeside towns, the overall population is not wealthy. Most jobs are in the tourism, farming or service industry where wages are low, and jobs are often seasonal, part-time, and with evening and weekends included in work schedules. In turn, poverty rates and jobless rates are high. Families typically live out of town where housing is more affordable. With limited public transit options, a vehicle and money for fuel is needed to travel to and from work/school, shopping and social services/health care. Each one has a school district with one elementary school, one middle school and one high school, except for Petoskey, which has four elementary schools. Petoskey, the largest city (population: 5,670), is home to a regional hospital and community college and the region’s only big box stores (there is no shopping mall within the three counties). Populations to be served: The Census Bureau estimates 82,639 people live in the region. Overall, the population in rural Northwest Michigan is more homogeneous than the State; 95.0% is white. Native Americans, at 1.9%, represent the largest minority group. SAFE in Northern Michigan coalition through the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program aims to 1) Increase community collaboration and 2) Reduce Youth Substance Use. Goal 1: Use the DFC to increase community collaboration which will build prevention capacity and infrastructure in Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet counties. Objective 1: By September 29, 2021, SAFE in Northern Michigan (SAFE) will sustain the number of adult (18+) coalition members 32 to 48 and the number of youth (grades 9-12) coalition members in the range of 82-109, as measured by the coalition rosters. Many of SAFE’s partners serve all three counties (or beyond), including the local health department, hospital, intermediate school district, substance use coordinating agency and substance use treatment facility. To make the most of limited resources, these partners have developed positive working relationships to tackle complex community problems in collaboration with local businesses, churches, law enforcement, and others. Over the past 13 years our coalition has planned and implemented activities to increase awareness of substance use, educate our youth and community members, provide fun, substance-free activities for youth, and change policy. Goal 2: Reduce Youth Substance Use. Objective 1: Decrease underage alcohol use by 2% from 15.5% in 2018 to 13.5% in 2022 as measured by Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet County High School students reporting “alcohol use in the past 30 days” on the MiPHY. Objective 2: Decrease current marijuana use among youth by 2% from 13.2% in 2018 to 11.2% in 2022 in Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet counties; measurement: high school students reporting “marijuana use in the past 30 days” from the MiPHY survey. Since SAFE was organized 13 years ago, youth substance use rates have declined in the region. Although we do not take all the credit, we believe we are making a difference. We see there is much more work to do! Project Interventions: SAFE in Northern Michigan will continue to build community capacity, increase collaboration to enhance all substance use prevention services. Having a comprehensive prevention plan will increase infrastructure and capacity of the SAFE in NM region. Evidence based and environmental change strategies, such a policy change, will be the focus of the DFC.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).