Substance Abuse

Goal: Prevent substance abuse and violence among early adolescents.

Statements of Need

1. There is a lack of interactive, preventive Drug & Alcohol curriculum in three local middle/junior schools.
2. There is a lack of interactive community based prevention efforts in the 8 school district communities.
3. There is a lack of current youth based drug/alcohol usage data and community risk/protective factor data from the local communities.

Documentation of Need

1. Five out of eight school coalitions have applied to use substance abuse prevention min-grants through this task force.
2. The 1998/99 Search Institute Youth Survey indicated a need for D/A intervention related to a significant number of risk factors.
3. All eight school districts continue to apply for safe & drug free schools grants.

Measurable Outcomes

1. Reduce risk factors and increase protective factors relative to substance use/abuse among adolescents.
2. Increase community engagement in substance abuse prevention efforts.
3. Increase the number of school districts conducting PA Youth Survey.

Evaluation

1. By school year 2003/04 increase the number of students participating in Project STAR.
2. By 12/03 measure the number of youth & adults attending coalition sponsored community activities with a substance abuse prevention component.
3. Measure and increase the number of districts conducting PA Youth Survey.

Existing Programs

1. DARE
2. SHS
3. Valley Prevention Services
4. Community Coalitions
5. YWCA
6. School Districts

Work Plan

Identify existing programs addressing need:

1. By 2003/04 school year, expand Project STAR into three other school districts.
2. In 2002/2003, acquire funding through an existing agency to hire staff to oversee four of the five (non-school based) components of Project STAR.
3. In 2002/2003, contact and encourage school districts to conduct the PA Youth Survey during school year 2003/2004.
4. Assist a minimum of three local school districts in conducting the PA Youth Survey in their district during school year 2003/2004.
5. In 2002/2003, notify Project STAR community coalitions of availability of mini-grants.