Every Arkansan Inc

FORGE FATHERHOOD CENTRAL ARKANSAS - STRENGTHENING FATHERS, RESTORING FAMILIES, AND PRIORITIZING INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY POVERTY, UNDEREMPLOYMENT, CHILD SUPPORT ARREARS, OR JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT. - STRENGTHENING FATHERS, RESTORING FAMILIES, AND PRIORITIZING INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY POVERTY, UNDEREMPLOYMENT, CHILD SUPPORT ARREARS, OR JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT. EVERY ARKANSAN WILL IMPLEMENT THE FATHERHOOD FORGE PROGRAM DELIVERING 24 HOURS OF CURRICULUM-BASED WORKSHOPS USING 24/7 DAD A.M. AND FDIC'S MONEY SMART FOR ADULTS AT TRUSTED COMMUNITY SITES IN PULASKI, JEFFERSON, SEBASTIAN, AND WHITE COUNTIES. THE PROJECT WILL SERVE COMMUNITY FATHERS AND FATHERS REENTERING FROM THE JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT CONNECTING PARTICIPANTS TO EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, AND LEGAL AID THROUGH EA'S 100 FAMILIES NETWORK. WORKSHOPS AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES WILL STRENGTHEN FATHER-CHILD ENGAGEMENT, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, AND ECONOMIC STABILITY, WITH PEER MENTORSHIP REINFORCING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. OVER FIVE YEARS, THE PROGRAM WILL SERVE 675 FATHERS (75 IN YEAR 1; 150 ANNUALLY THEREAFTER) IMPACTED BY POVERTY, UNDEREMPLOYMENT, AND CHILD SUPPORT CHALLENGES.

EVERY ARKANSAN ALLIANCE COALITION - COALITION NAME: EVERY ARKANSAN ALLIANCE COALITION LEGAL APPLICANT ORGANIZATION: EVERY ARKANSAN TARGET COMMUNITY: PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS SUBSTANCES ADDRESSED: ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA PURPOSE AND GOALS. EVERY ARKANSAN, 501C3 ORGANIZATION, REQUESTS FUNDING FOR YEAR 1 OF THE DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES (DFC) SUPPORT PROGRAM TO FORMALIZE THE EVERY ARKANSAN ALLIANCE COALITION. THIS MULTI-SECTORAL INITIATIVE IS DEDICATED TO THE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION OF YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE IN PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS, A REGION CURRENTLY FACING HIGH RATES OF JUVENILE VIOLENCE AND SYSTEMIC ECONOMIC DISPARITIES, WITH UP TO 99% OF STUDENTS IN TARGET NEIGHBORHOODS QUALIFYING FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH. THE COALITION AIMS TO ACHIEVE TWO PRIMARY STATUTORY GOALS: (1) ESTABLISH AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AMONG THE 12 REQUIRED SECTORS, AND (2) REDUCE YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE BY ADDRESSING LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS AND ENHANCING PROTECTIVE FACTORS ACROSS URBAN CENTERS LIKE LITTLE ROCK AND SURROUNDING UNDERSERVED RURAL CORRIDORS. APPROACH AND STRATEGIES. LEVERAGING OUR CURRENT "100 FAMILIES" AND "ALLIANCE" COALITIONS, THE YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION COALITION WILL MOBILIZE ITS MULTI-SECTORAL LEADERSHIP TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE 12-MONTH ACTION PLAN FOCUSED ON ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA, IDENTIFIED THROUGH REGIONAL DATA AS THE PRIMARY SUBSTANCES OF MISUSE. THE COALITION WILL EXECUTE THE SEVEN STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY-LEVEL CHANGE AS FOLLOWS: PROVIDE INFORMATION: EXECUTE LOCALIZED MEDIA CAMPAIGNS VIA RADIO (SALEM MEDIA) AND DIGITAL PSAS, SUPPLEMENTED BY 4 COMMUNITY EVENTS ANNUALLY TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE OF YOUTH SUBSTANCE PATTERNS. BUILD SKILLS: CONDUCT BI-MONTHLY WORKSHOPS AND PARENTING CLASSES THROUGH A NETWORK OF 75+ PARTNER CHURCHES FOCUSED ON EVIDENCE-BASED DECISION-MAKING AND EARLY INTERVENTION. PROVIDE SUPPORT: DEPLOY MOBILE OUTREACH TEAMS TO ESTABLISH WEEKLY YOUTH CLUBS AND PEER-MENTORSHIP GROUPS IN HIGH-NEED NEIGHBORHOODS.ENHANCE ACCESS/REDUCE BARRIERS: IDENTIFY SERVICE DELIVERY GAPS AND PARTNER WITH PROVIDERS TO ENSURE SAFE ACCESS TO RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND CLINICAL REFERRALS. CHANGE CONSEQUENCES: PARTNER WITH THE LOCAL BUSINESSES TO LAUNCH A MERCHANT RECOGNITION PROGRAM FOR RETAILERS PASSING ALCOHOL/TOBACCO COMPLIANCE CHECKS. PHYSICAL DESIGN: EDUCATE MUNICIPAL STAKEHOLDERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ON ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES, RE-ROUTING FOOT TRAFFIC AND ADJUSTING PARK HOURS TO MINIMIZE UNSUPERVISED ACCESS. MODIFY/CHANGE POLICY: FACILITATE MONTHLY WORKING SESSIONS TO ASSIST SCHOOLS AND WORKPLACES IN DRAFTING DRUG-FREE BY-LAWS AND PREVENTION PROTOCOLS. EXPECTED OUTCOMES. THE COALITION EXPECTS TO ACHIEVE A MEASURABLE REDUCTION IN PAST 30-DAY USE OF ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA AMONG YOUTH IN GRADES 6–12. FURTHER ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES INCLUDE AN INCREASED PERCEPTION OF RISK AND HIGHER RATES OF PEER AND PARENTAL DISAPPROVAL OF SUBSTANCE USE, AS VALIDATED BY BIENNIAL DATA COLLECTION FOR THE FOUR DFC CORE MEASURES. ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY. EVERY ARKANSAN IS A HIGH-PERFORMING ORGANIZATION WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF MANAGING MULTI-AGENCY COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN MUNICIPAL, COUNTY, AND COMMUNITY ENTITIES. WITH ROBUST FISCAL CONTROLS COMPLIANT WITH 2 CFR PART 200 AND A DEDICATED LEADERSHIP TEAM, EVERY ARKANSAN SERVES AS THE PROVEN SOLUTION TO FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY-LEVEL CHANGE AND ENSURING THE HEALTH OF PULASKI COUNTY YOUTH.