Wakulla County Coalition for Youth DFC Support Program - Wakulla Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program Introduction: The proposed project is a partnership between Wakulla County Coalition for Youth (WCCY) & Florida State University-Florida Center for Prevention Research (FCPR) acting as the fiscal agent, for a new DFC Support program in Wakulla County Florida. Purpose: The purpose of the Wakulla DFC Support Program will be to strengthen collaborations in Wakulla County to support the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth and its community partners in their efforts to prevent and reduce substance use among youth by addressing the factors that increase the risk of substance use and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance use in Wakulla County, Florida. Two key substances to be addressed are youth alcohol & marijuana. Approach: The Wakulla DFC program includes plans to build the capacity of the WCCY to promote policies addressing youth alcohol and marijuana use, and implement evidence-based prevention strategies to decrease risk of underage alcohol and marijuana use and increase protective factors that guard against it, including the following: Goal 1: Strengthen the WCCY to support their efforts in working to prevent and reduce alcohol and marijuana use among youth DFC Strategy 3: Provide Support to increase opportunities that increase involvement in drug-free/healthy alternative activities. Activities: Resource and referral list, Community Festival (“Wakulla Wonderful”, Family Fun Day, Fall Festival, etc.). DFC Strategy 4: Enhance access, reduce barriers, & improve connections between systems & services that help prevent youth substance use. Activities: Monthly WCCY Meetings; Community Needs Assessment/Asset Mapping. DFC Strategy 5: Change consequences to incentivize positive practices & disincentivize negative practices. Activity: Use data to inform local policy change. DFC Strategy 6: Change physical design of the community to enhance protection against or to reduce the risk for youth substance use. Activities: Conduct Hot Spot Mapping; Enhance community recreational facilities by raising funds via Fun Run/5K. DFC Strategy 7: Educate and inform about modifying/changing policies that reduce access & availability to substances among youth. Activities: Increase collaboration with local law enforcement; Increased collaboration with local school officials. Goal 2: Reduce & prevent youth underage alcohol & marijuana use in Wakulla County DFC Strategy 1: Provide Information to the public & key stakeholders about youth substance use. Activities: Public education campaign (website, social media, newspaper, info kiosks); Social Norms Marketing Campaign targeting patterns/perceptions of youth alcohol & marijuana use. DFC Strategy 2: Enhance Skills among relevant stakeholders so youth/adults can engage in positive social & decision-making capabilities. Activities: Too Good for Drugs taught in school and community settings; Parent education action events; Wakulla Parent Facebook Support Group. Outcomes: By the end of the 5 years of the Wakulla DFC Program, WCCY hopes to achieve the following long-term impact: 10% decrease in Wakulla youth respondents who reported using alcohol or marijuana at least once within the past 30-days; a 10% increase in the percent of Wakulla youth respondents who perceive that the use of alcohol or marijuana has moderate/great risk, a 10% increase in the percent of Wakulla youth respondents who perceive that their parents would feel that regular use of alcohol (1 or 2 drinks nearly every day) or any use of marijuana is wrong/very wrong; and a 10% increase in the percent of Wakulla youth respondents who perceive their friends would feel it would be wrong/very wrong for them to drink alcohol regularly (1 or 2 drinks nearly every day) or use any marijuana.
