One Voice

ONE VOICE OF HUNTERDON, INC. SPF-PFS COMMUNITIES GRANT - THE ONE VOICE OF HUNTERDON - PARTNERSHIP FOR SUCCESS GRANT FOCUSES ON UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS WITHIN THE TARGETED AREA TO EMPHASIZE SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES THAT ARE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE. THE POPULATION OF FOCUS ADDRESSES LOWER SOCIO-ECONOMIC GAPS, HISPANIC/LATINO AND LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCING MARGINALIZATION AND BARRIERS TO MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE, AGES 17-25 GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL AGING OUT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND FINALLY FURTHER REDUCING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER WITHIN THE RURAL FAITH COMMUNITIES. STRATEGIES AND INTERVENTIONS REVOLVE AROUND OFFERING PUBLICITY, PROGRAMS AND PRODUCTS. THE PUBLICITY WILL INCLUDE BILINGUAL TOWN TAKEOVER TO PROMOTE A SINGLE MESSAGE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY TO UNITE ALL MEMBERS AND EMPHASIS ON SUPPORTING PRIDE MONTH. PROGRAMS WILL FOCUS ON TRAINING FAITH LEADERS IN SBIRT, TRAINING PEER RECOVERY COACHES IN PLACES OF FAITH, OFFERING BILINGUAL MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING FOR ADULTS AND TEENS, CUSTOMIZING STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAMS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND LGBTQIA+ FAMILIES THROUGH THE FAMILY ACCEPTANCE PROJECT, AND A 3-PART TALK SERIES ADDRESSING ISSUES FOR POST HIGH SCHOOL, AGES 17-25 YOUNG ADULTS. FINALLY, A SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT WILL BE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED: MAP - A MENTAL HEALTH ACCESSIBILITY PORTAL APP AND TOOLKIT (MAP) OFFERED TO THE COMMUNITY TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY AND CONFIDENCE REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN ALL TARGET POPULATION SUPPORTED BY THE GRANT. PROGRAM GOALS WILL BE MEASURED BY INCREASING OVERALL COALITION CAPACITY, INCREASING CONFIDENCE OF ACCESSING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, AND INCREASING YOUTH AND PARENTAL PERCEPTION OF HARM OF SUBSTANCES, WHICH WOULD ULTIMATELY DECREASE YOUTH PAST 30-DAY USE. WITHIN A TOTAL SERVICE POPULATION OF 60,000 MADE UP OF SELECT ZIP CODES OF HUNTERDON COUNTY, INDIRECT SERVICES ARE AIMED AT THE ENTIRE POPULATION AND DIRECT SERVICES WILL REACH 725 AT-RISK COMMUNITY MEMBERS ANNUALLY WITH A TOTAL PROJECT LIFETIME OF 3,625 TOTAL PEOPLE REACHED.

RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE-IMPLEMENTATION

DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES - ONE VOICE OF HUNTERDON COUNTY

ONE VOICE FOR VOLUSIA DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES PROJECT

DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES CONTINUATION GRANT - ONE VOICE OF HUNTERDON INC.

ONE VOICE OF HUNTERDON - REDEFINING RITES OF PASSAGE - ONE VOICE OF HUNTERDON - REDEFINING RITES OF PASSAGE PROJECT ABSTRACT ONE VOICE OF HUNTERDON IS APPLYING FOR THE FEDERAL STOP ACT GRANT (SOBER TRUTH ON PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING) IN ORDER TO PREVENT AND REDUCE ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 12-20 IN HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ. AS A DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES COALITION, ONE VOICE IS THE FIRST COALITION OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE OF NJ, UTILIZING THE OUTREACH OF FAITH LEADERS IN PREVENTION, AND HAS BEEN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BY COMMUNITY ANTI DRUG COALITIONS OF AMERICA (CADCA). AS A RESULT OF THE PREVENTION WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE PAST 30-DAY USE OF ALCOHOL AMONG OUR TEENS HAS DECREASED; HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE. THE POPULATION OF FOCUS FOR THIS GRANT WILL BE YOUTH AGES 12-20 WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR ALCOHOL USE; SPECIFICALLY THE LATINO/HISPANIC POPULATION AND YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN THE MORE RURAL AREAS OF HUNTERDON COUNTY. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL BE WORKING TO BUILD BETTER CAPACITY AMONG ALL PARENTS IN THE COUNTY, AS THIS SECTOR HAS BEEN OUR MOST DIFFICULT TO REACH IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. THE STOP ACT PROGRAM AIMS TO ADDRESS NORMS REGARDING ALCOHOL USE BY YOUTH, REDUCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERAGE DRINKING, AND REDUCE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH UNDERAGE DRINKING. OUR SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES FOR THIS PROJECT INCORPORATE CADCA'S SEVEN STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE. ONE VOICE PLANS TO COLLABORATE WITH SCHOOLS, FAITH YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, AND GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA TO CREATE AND DELIVER A RELEVANT AND SUSTAINABLE MIXED MEDIA CLUB - REDEFINING RITES OF PASSAGE, WHICH WILL ADDRESS SOCIAL NORMS AROUND UNDERAGE DRINKING. CAPITALIZING ON THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF HUNTERDON COUNTY'S PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, WE WILL WORK TO CREATE ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH, WHICH IS THE MOST COMMONLY CITED REASON FOR UNDERAGE DRINKING - 'THERE IS NOTHING TO DO'. COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL LIQUOR STORES, WE WILL HELP TO IMPLEMENT STATE OF THE ART ID SCANNERS, WHICH WILL DETER YOUTH FROM PURCHASING ALCOHOL ILLEGALLY. OUR SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY IS GROWING RAPIDLY IN HUNTERDON COUNTY. ENGAGING WITH THIS COMMUNITY IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE AND, AS A RESULT OF THE LATINO/HISPANIC TOWN HALL MEETINGS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE POPULATION IS EAGER FOR RESOURCES, SUPPORT AND EDUCATION TO HELP KEEP TEENS SAFE AND ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREE. A SPANISH OUTREACH COORDINATOR WILL BE HIRED TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND RECRUIT LATINO/HISPANIC COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ONE VOICE THROUGH A DEDICATED SPANISH MEMBERSHIP ACTION TEAM. TOWN HALL MEETINGS FOR THIS POPULATION WILL INCREASE TO TWO TIMES PER YEAR. FINALLY, DATA SHOWS THAT PARENTS IN HUNTERDON COUNTY HAVE A LOW PERCEPTION OF HARM OF TEEN ALCOHOL USE; OFTEN CITING THIS BEHAVIOR AS A 'RITE OF PASSAGE'. THROUGH THE STOP ACT PROGRAM, WE AIM TO INCREASE OUR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO PARENTS, BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, IN ORDER TO CONNECT WITH PARENTS AS THEIR KIDS ARE ENTERING A NEW PHASE OF LIFE. WITHIN FAITH COMMUNITIES (CONFIRMATION OR BAR/BAT MITZVAH YEARS); SCHOOL LIFE (MIDDLE TO HIGH SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE); AND SCOUTING (SILVER, GOLD AWARDS OR EAGLE SCOUTS). THESE ARE ALL POSITIVE RITES OF PASSAGE AND WE AIM TO EDUCATE PARENTS ON THE UNHEALTHY RITES OF PASSAGE SUCH AS FIRST DRINK OR 'TEACHING KIDS TO DRINK' BEFORE COLLEGE. FEEDBACK FROM A RECENT COMMUNITY EVENT CONCLUDED THAT PARENTS NEED TO LEARN PARENTAL REFUSAL SKILLS SINCE THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL PEER PRESSURE TO FIT IN FROM OTHER PARENTS.

ONE VOICE OF HUNTERDON WILL WORK TO REDUCE THE MISUSE OF OPIOID AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. - ONE VOICE OF HUNTERDON (OVH) SEEKS FUNDING THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE ADDICTION AND RECOVERY ACT (CARA) LOCAL DRUG CRISES PROGRAM TO REDUCE AND PREVENT YOUTH OPIOID AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE AND CHANGE THE CULTURE AND CONTEXT REGARDING THE ACCEPTABILITY OF OPIOID AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE AMONG YOUTH AGES 12–18 IN THE HUNTERDON CENTRAL REGION OF HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. SERVING A POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 51,468 RESIDENTS ACROSS EIGHT ZIP CODES, THE PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON YOUTH, PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, SCHOOLS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IDENTIFIED THROUGH LOCAL ASSESSMENT DATA AS CRITICAL PARTNERS IN ADDRESSING YOUTH OPIOID-RELATED RISKS. DESPITE DECLINING OVERDOSE DEATHS, HUNTERDON COUNTY CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT OPIOID-RELATED CHALLENGES. BETWEEN 2019 AND 2025, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DATA DOCUMENTED 11,453 FENTANYL SUBMISSIONS, 2,734 FENTANYL SAMPLES CONTAINING XYLAZINE, AND 91 OVERDOSE DEATHS. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, MORE THAN 265,000 OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS WERE DISPENSED COUNTYWIDE. LOCAL YOUTH SURVEY DATA INDICATE CONTINUED CONCERNS RELATED TO PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE, YOUTH ACCESS TO MEDICATIONS WITHIN THE HOME, LOW PERCEPTION OF HARM, AND NORMALIZATION OF FENTANYL-RELATED BEHAVIORS AMONG ADOLESCENTS. EMERGING OPIOID-LIKE SUBSTANCES, INCLUDING KRATOM AND 7-HYDROXYMITRAGYNINE (7-OH), HAVE ALSO BEEN IDENTIFIED AS GROWING CONCERNS THROUGH RECENT ENVIRONMENTAL SCANS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDER REPORTS. OVH WILL IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION APPROACH GUIDED BY SAMHSA’S STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK (SPF) AND THE SEVEN STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS FOCUSED ON OPIOID MISUSE, FENTANYL, COUNTERFEIT PILLS, KRATOM, AND 7-OH; PROMOTION OF SAFE MEDICATION STORAGE AND DISPOSAL PRACTICES; PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK INITIATIVES; YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND PEER-TO-PEER PREVENTION ACTIVITIES; PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS; HEALTHCARE PROVIDER ENGAGEMENT AROUND SAFE OPIOID PRESCRIBING PRACTICES; AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES DESIGNED TO REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS TO PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. THE PROJECT WILL LEVERAGE OVH’S ESTABLISHED COALITION INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH INCLUDES ACTIVE PARTICIPATION FROM ALL TWELVE REQUIRED COMMUNITY SECTORS. KEY PARTNERS INCLUDE THE HUNTERDON COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE, HUNTERDON HEALTHCARE, LOCAL SCHOOLS, PHARMACIES, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, THE NEW JERSEY HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA (NJ HIDTA), THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA), AND CATALYST EVALUATION GROUP. OVH EXPECTS TO REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS TO PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, INCREASE SECURE MEDICATION STORAGE PRACTICES, STRENGTHEN PARENTAL DISAPPROVAL OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE, INCREASE PERCEPTION OF HARM RELATED TO OPIOID AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE, EXPAND HEALTHCARE PARTNER ENGAGEMENT IN OPIOID PREVENTION EFFORTS, AND REDUCE YOUTH MISUSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN PLANNING, MULTISECTOR COLLABORATION, AND EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION STRATEGIES, THE PROJECT WILL CREATE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY-LEVEL CHANGE AND STRENGTHEN HUNTERDON COUNTY’S CAPACITY TO PREVENT YOUTH OPIOID AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE.

ONE VOICE FOR VOLUSIA'S SEMINOLE PREVENTION COALTION MENTORING PROJECT

ONE VOICE: PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING IN HUNTERDON COUNTY - ONE VOICE OF HUNTERDON (OVH) WILL IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED UNDERAGE DRINKING PREVENTION INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO REDUCE ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUTH, DECREASE YOUTH ACCESS TO ALCOHOL, AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY NORMS THAT DISCOURAGE UNDERAGE DRINKING THROUGHOUT CENTRAL HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. UTILIZING THE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK (SPF) AND EVIDENCE-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL PREVENTION STRATEGIES, THE PROJECT WILL ENGAGE YOUTH, PARENTS, SCHOOLS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, BUSINESSES, FAITH ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IN COORDINATED PREVENTION EFFORTS. THROUGH EDUCATION, POLICY AND PRACTICE CHANGE, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS LOCAL CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTING TO UNDERAGE DRINKING WHILE STRENGTHENING PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAT SUPPORT HEALTHY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. THE PROJECT WILL SERVE ALL MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, A PREDOMINANTLY RURAL COUNTY WITH APPROXIMATELY 126,000 RESIDENTS. ACCORDING TO THE 2025 COUNTY HEALTH RANKINGS, 58.3% OF THE COUNTY IS CLASSIFIED AS LOW-DENSITY RURAL. HUNTERDON COUNTY CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE ALCOHOL-RELATED CONCERNS, INCLUDING EXCESSIVE DRINKING AND ALCOHOL-IMPAIRED DRIVING RATES THAT EXCEED STATE BENCHMARKS, HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR CONTINUED PREVENTION EFFORTS. THE PRIMARY POPULATION OF FOCUS IS YOUTH AGES 12-20 RESIDING IN HUNTERDON COUNTY. SECONDARY POPULATIONS INCLUDE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, EDUCATORS, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, BUSINESSES, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO INFLUENCE YOUTH ATTITUDES, BEHAVIORS, AND ACCESS TO ALCOHOL. THE PROJECT WILL DIRECTLY SERVE YOUTH AGES 12–20 THROUGH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION ACTIVITIES WHILE ENGAGING PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES IN COUNTYWIDE PREVENTION INITIATIVES. OVH WILL IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION STRATEGIES THAT INCLUDE COMMUNITY-WIDE ALCOHOL PREVENTION EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS. PARENT AND CAREGIVER EDUCATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNICATION, MONITORING, AND PREVENTING YOUTH ACCESS TO ALCOHOL. YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND PEER-TO-PEER PREVENTION ACTIVITIES. RESPONSIBLE ALCOHOL RETAIL AND MERCHANT EDUCATION INITIATIVES. COMMUNITY NORMS AND MEDIA CAMPAIGNS ARE DESIGNED TO REDUCE ACCEPTANCE OF UNDERAGE DRINKING. ENVIRONMENTAL PREVENTION STRATEGIES THAT REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS TO ALCOHOL. COLLABORATION WITH SCHOOLS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT POLICY AND PRACTICE CHANGES. ONGOING DATA COLLECTION, EVALUATION, AND COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES TO GUIDE IMPLEMENTATION AND MEASURE OUTCOMES. PROJECT GOALS: GOAL 1: REDUCE UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE AMONG HUNTERDON COUNTY YOUTH. GOAL 2: REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS TO ALCOHOL THROUGH COMMUNITY-LEVEL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PREVENTION STRATEGIES. GOAL 3: INCREASE PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY NORMS THAT DISCOURAGE UNDERAGE DRINKING. SUMMARIZED OBJECTIVES: BY SEPTEMBER 29, 2030, THE PROJECT WILL: REDUCE THE PERCENTAGE OF YOUTH REPORTING PAST 30-DAY ALCOHOL USE AS MEASURED BY THE HUNTERDON COUNTY STUDENT SURVEY. INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF YOUTH WHO PERCEIVE REGULAR ALCOHOL USE AS HARMFUL. INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WHO REPORT DISCUSSING THE RISKS OF ALCOHOL USE WITH THEIR CHILDREN. REDUCING THE PERCENTAGE OF YOUTH WHO REPORT ALCOHOL IS EASY OR EASY TO OBTAIN. ENGAGE REPRESENTATIVES FROM AT LEAST 12 COMMUNITY SECTORS ANNUALLY IN IMPLEMENTING AND SUPPORTING UNDERAGE DRINKING PREVENTION STRATEGIES. THROUGH COLLABORATIVE, DATA-DRIVEN PREVENTION EFFORTS, ONE VOICE OF HUNTERDON WILL WORK TO CREATE LASTING COMMUNITY-LEVEL CHANGE THAT REDUCES UNDERAGE DRINKING AND PROMOTES HEALTHIER OUTCOMES FOR HUNTERDON COUNTY YOUTH AND FAMILIES.

TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATING COSTS IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

TO SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF BAYARD RUSTIN: THE MAN BEHIND THE DREAM A MUSICAL WORK HONORING THE LIFE OF THE OPENLY GAY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST WITH ASSOCIATED OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.

TO SUPPORT A CONCERT FOR LGBTQ YOUTH AND RELATED OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.