UPLIFT Brevard Drug-Free Communities Substance Misuse Prevention Initiative in Melbourne and Brevard County, Florida - UPLIFT Brevard Drug-Free Coalition (d/b/a for Brevard Prevention Coalition, Inc.) will expand substance misuse prevention services in Brevard County, FL, with a targeted focus on the Melbourne region. Over a five-year performance period, the project will implement three core components serving youth, adults, and the broader community. These components will focus on preventing youth alcohol use and vaping (nicotine and THC), including education on associated risks and harms. Component 1: The I CHOOSE ME® (ICM) substance misuse prevention initiative targets children ages 6–11 and their families. Through the POSITIVE CHOICES. POSITIVE LIFE.™ (PCPL) program, weekly sessions and modified summer programming will be conducted at five existing youth-serving sites in Melbourne, FL. Topics include nutrition, mindfulness, impulse control, physical education, STEM, and creative arts—reinforcing healthy decision-making and holistic development. These activities align with strategies to enhance skills, provide healthy alternatives, and increase access to programs that promote self-efficacy and reduce risk factors. Expected outcomes include improved decision-making, emotional regulation, and increased involvement in drug-free activities. Component 2: The BETTER WITHOUT IT® (BWI) initiative supports Gen Z and Gen Alpha youth ages 12–17 and builds on Brevard Public Schools’ 8-week substance misuse diversion program in Melbourne and Cocoa, FL. Youth completing the program participate in the BWI Youth Empowerment Leadership program, which provides advocacy training, peer mentorship, and life goal setting to strengthen leadership, social connectedness, and resilience. Expected outcomes include reduced access to substances, increased protective factors, and sustained collaboration among youth-serving organizations. ICM and BWI are grounded in the evidence-based Positive Youth Development framework, emphasizing the “5 Cs”: Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Compassion, which support reduced substance use and positive long-term outcomes. Component 3: The MOVE INTO LIGHT® (MIL) initiative addresses adult substance misuse prevention through outreach, education, and coalition-building across the 12 required community sectors in Brevard County. This includes engaging professionals, caregivers, and decision-makers to reduce stigma, promote prevention-focused education, and disrupt generational cycles of substance misuse. Activities such as community trainings, campaigns, and cross-sector collaboration align with strategies to inform policy, improve system linkages, and reduce environmental risk factors. Long-term outcomes include increased coalition capacity, reduced community-level risk factors, and reductions in both youth and adult substance use.
