Drug Free Punta Gorda ANNUAL REPORT

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1 Drug Free Punta Gorda ANNUAL REPORT

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3 CONTENTS Pg. 5 Message from the Board, Della Booth, Board Chair Pg. 6 Mission, Vision & Guiding Principles Pg. 7 Executive Summary Don McCormick, Vice Chair Pg Programs Pg Program Impact Pg. 12. Our Leadership Pg Volunteer 3

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6 Mission Drug Free Punta Gorda is a youth substance-use prevention coalition, whose mission is to provide awareness, knowledge and skills to establish and advance healthy, drug-free choices in our community. Vision Drug Free Punta Gorda will prevent youth substance use by creating a wellinformed community, empowered to make healthy, drug-free choices. Guiding Principles Drug Free Punta Gorda sets community prevention and education priorities that strengthen common goals while respecting individual initiatives. Drug Free Punta Gorda efforts center on education and prevention to reduce substance abuse. Drug Free Punta Gorda promotes substance abuse education, prevention, and reduction through public awareness, public policy, social norming and networking of organizations and individuals. Drug Free Punta Gorda s role is to facilitate collaboration, engage participation, and provide technical assistance and information regarding effective substance abuse prevention. Drug Free Punta Gorda encourages the implementation of best practices and innovative strategies grounded in research. Drug Free Punta Gorda favors programs and initiatives that have a built-in evaluation component providing feedback for improvement and efficacy. Drug Free Punta Gorda may convene community-based task groups and collaborations to address particular needs. These groups are encouraged to initiate actions and seek support from the coalition and community. Drug Free Punta Gorda facilitates and provides technical assistance to groups and collaborations who are working to address prioritized needs. 6

7 Executive Summary Don McCormick Board Vice Chair Drug Free Punta Gorda (DFPG) is pleased to share this annual progress report. As Punta Gorda s local antidrug coalition, we engage leaders and individuals to develop and implement strategies to improve the community. Our work includes the coordination of community-wide efforts to reduce youth substance abuse through community and school-based programs, special events, marketing and extensive collaboration among Punta Gorda s youth-serving agencies. Our work over this past year, is featured in this report. The mission of this organization is to bring down youth involvement with harmful substances through peer and adult application of social norming * methodologies. Drug Free Punta Gorda has an initial grant of $125,000 annually for five (5), years with a provision to apply for an additional five years of funding. The grant monies are retained by SAMHSA in Washington D.C. until requested for specified disbursements. The Managing Entity (Fiscal Agent) for DFPG is Charlotte Behavioral Health, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit agency. The grant authorizes two staff members. Personal assignments are distributed as follows: o Executive Director reports directly to the DFPG Board of Directors; has oversight and administration of all coalition duties, activities and responsibilities o Project Coordinator: A portion of effort/time is focused on direct involvement with middle and high school-aged teens. Additionally, a portion of time is focused on direct involvement with adult organizations and the business community, as well as data entry, statistical analysis, filing compliance reports, monitoring existing programs, etc. DFPG has a relationship with Tobacco Free Charlotte County, with a small sub-contract for work performed, at $7,000 annually. DFPG was a functioning program for two years prior to receipt of the DFC grant. *Social norming is designed to affect social behavior through positive interaction with all community members, and specifically youth, driven by validated survey information, made available to the entire community. Accurate information has proven to be a valuable tool in combatting inaccurate sensationalized information circulating among our most impressionable youth. 7

8 Programs Drug Free Punta Gorda works to build partnerships and engage our community. Through a thoughtfully developed community action plan, and evaluation of strategies, we implement sound prevention strategies, as well as bring awareness and education, supporting positive community norms. Be the Wall... for Adults, and for Teens Be The Wall is a tried and true campaign to prevent underage drinking. The adult component Be The Wall between your teens and alcohol, has been implemented in Punta Gorda, to reach thousands of adults, and additionally, the teen component Be The Wall between your Friends and Alcohol, has been used to reach over 1,300 middle school age during Parent Boot Camps, Compliance Checks and more Drug Free Punta Gorda staff has had the opportunity to present six different Parent Boot Camps during the year, reaching approximately 150 adults in Punta Gorda. The Boot Camp is updated regularly, and addresses topics such as: Teen Brain 101, Underage Drinking, Marijuana, Prescription Drug Abuse, Teen Tobacco use, Teen Body Image, and the importance of Family Dinners. We are always looking for partners, businesses, etc. interested in hosting a Parent Boot Camp. Four Compliance Checks, have been conducted by the Punta Gorda Police Dept., CCSO and Alcohol, Beverage & Tobacco during , in dozens of stores, and only two retailers have sold alcohol to a minor. This is a HUGE win for our community! Friday Night Done Right... No alcohol. No dope. This social norms campaign has led to a strong group of youth, going out into our community as the Street Team bringing the prevention message to high school football and basketball games, as well as middle school basketball games. Giving away water bottles, t-shirts, candy, and more with the prevention message on it, the coalition has reached 3,708 teens during school year. 8

9 Programs (continued) Alcohol and Media Literacy Through Coalition partners/members, as well as volunteers, Alcohol Literacy has taught students to think critically about mass media and advertising related to alcohol. 1,527 Punta Gorda middle and high school teens participated in both programs, during the 2015/16 school year. Additionally, 328 students from East, Sallie Jones and Deep Creek Elementary also benefitted from this great program. Teen Focus Groups, Round Tables and Camps Drug Free Punta Gorda staff worked with students, from all backgrounds, engaging them in conversations and prevention activities regarding underage drinking, teen marijuana use, as well as prescription drug abuse, with conversation about overthe-counter drugs, and everything tobacco (including educational pieces on e-cigarettes and vaping devices). During the last weeks of the school year, and throughout the summer, we had open dialogue and conversations with 535 middle and high school students, combined. Social Norms Campaigns, Activities & Events Our Social Norms campaigns, activities and events always convey the teen prevention message in the positive. For example: 93% of Punta Gorda middle school teens don t use alcohol when hanging with friends. Or 75% of Punta Gorda high school aged teens choose to get high on life, rather than marijuana. MOST Punta Gorda teens are drug and alcohol free. The coalition uses posters, games, dance parties, BBQ s, and other activities to bring this positive prevention message to our youth. During the year, we reached 4,625 high school age, and 4,971 middle school youth, demonstrating to them the reality that most teens don t use, and they don t need to give in to peer pressure. 9

10 Program Impact The chart, below, shows the results of the Teen Social Norm Survey Results for middle school age youth in Punta Gorda, FL 2016, compared to the prior four years of data. This survey asked the questions: In the past 30-days, how many days did you smoke cigarettes? In the past 30-days on how many days did you have at least one drink of alcohol? During the past 30-days, on how many days did you use marijuana? PG Middle School-aged Teens are surveyed September 2016 Coalition evaluates and releases results Results are one component that determines prevention work with our youth Strategies are implemented to reach goals and outcomes in community 2016 Punta Gorda middle school age youth % 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% Past 30-Days Marijuana Past 30-Days Alcohol Past 30-Days Tobacco 10

11 Impact (Continued) The chart, below, shows the results of the Teen Social Norm Survey Results for high school age youth in Punta Gorda, FL 2016, compared to the prior four years of data. This survey asked the questions: In the past 30-days, how many days did you smoke cigarettes? In the past 30-days on how many days did you have at least one drink of alcohol? During the past 30-days, on how many days did you use marijuana? During the past 30 days have you used prescription drugs not prescribed to you? 40% 2016 Punta Gorda high school age teens 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Past 30-Days Tobacco Past 30-Days Alcohol Past 30-Days Marijuana Past 30-Day Prescription Drugs not prescribed to you 11

12 Drug Free Punta Gorda Leadership Drug Free Punta Gorda Executive Board Della Booth, Chair, Time Realty Don McCormick, Vice Chair, SCCC Jennifer Sexton, Secretary, Charlotte County Dept. of Health Stacy Cruz, Treasurer, Busey Bank Board Members-At-Large Ray Briggs, Punta Gorda Fire Dept Chief Sammie Brooks, 1 st Baptist Church of P.C., Asst. Pastor Tina Dionisio, Punta Gorda Middle School Principal Lt. Katie Heck, Punta Gorda Police Dept, Community Outreach Karen McElheny, C.A.R.E., Executive Director Derek Rogers, Charlotte Behavioral Health Care, CFO We have specific Coalition Members who have stepped forward to represent twelve different sectors of our community, as identified by the Drug Free Communities Grant: Business Don McCormick Civic Organization or Volunteer Group Della Booth Government Kim Devine Healthcare Professional Jennifer Sexton Law Enforcement Lt. Katie Heck Media Ken Lovejoy Other Organization Involved in Reducing Substance Abuse Jay Glynn Parent Stacy Cruz Religious or Fraternal Organization Sammie Brooks Schools Tina Dionisio Youth Bremen Sexton Youth-Serving Organization Angela Hem street We are very happy to report that, during the year, the corporate efforts of our members, partners and volunteers, contributed to a grand total of 2,000+ volunteer hours in teen drug prevention. 12

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14 Volunteer and Help Make a Difference Drug Free is consistently delivering the Teen Substance Abuse PREVENTION message and delivering it successfully due to our volunteers. Our volunteers are loyal, engaged, enthusiastic and committed. We would be honored to have you join us...contact us TODAY! Volunteer with the Drug Free Punta Gorda Teen Outreach Events Volunteer with Drug Free Punta Gorda Adult Outreach Events Volunteer around the office with phone calls and other tasks Volunteer in a different way: Please visit our website to learn more, or call us at , or Chrissie Salazar, Executive Director at Chrissie.salazar@yourcharlotteschools.net. Send this form by mail to us at: DFPG, PO Box , Punta Gorda, FL Name: Phone: Address: Comments: ANNUAL REPORT Connect With Us! drugfreepuntagorda@gmail.com