Empowerment Zone Coalition

EZC EASTSIDE COMMUNITY PREVENTION INITIATIVE - THE EASTSIDE COMMUNITY PREVENTION INITIATIVE (CPI) WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT THE EASTSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS BY FORMING SITE-SPECIFIC COMMUNITY PREVENTION TEAMS. THE PROJECT WILL TARGET 2,500 YOUTH OF WHOM 99% IDENTIFY AS AFRICAN AMERICAN. FURTHERMORE, 90% ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND 28% ARE RECEIVING SOME FORM OF SPECIAL EDUCATION. ALONG WITH CULTURALLY (RACE, ETHNICITY, AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION) AND AGE-APPROPRIATE STRATEGIES TARGETING EASTSIDE YOUTH, THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO IMPLEMENT A SERIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES TARGETING PARENTS OF SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS AGED 26 TO 35, AND THE RETAIL COMMUNITY SERVING THE EASTSIDE OF DETROIT. THE EMPOWERMENT ZONE COALITION (EZC) WILL ENGAGE THE INNATE CAPACITY, COMPETENCIES, AND RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT ALL SPF-PFS REQUIRED ACTIVITIES BEGINNING WITH THE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK (SPF). THE EZC WILL FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH COMPONENT OF THE SPF (ASSESSMENT, CAPACITY, PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EVALUATION) ENSURING A HIGH DEGREE OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND PROBABILITY FOR SUSTAINABILITY. THE ASSESSMENT STEP WILL BEGIN WITH UPDATING THE EXISTING EASTSIDE COMMUNITY PROFILE WITHIN THE FIRST 60 DAYS ALONG WITH A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISPARITIES IMPACT STATEMENT. THE UPDATED EPIDEMIOLOGY REPORT WILL PROVIDE MORE COMPLETE INFORMATION ON THE ORIGIN AND EFFECT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ADDICTION, AND RECOVERY IN THE EASTSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS OF DETROIT. THIS NEW INFORMATION WILL BE USED TO STRENGTHEN PREVENTION CAPACITY/INFRASTRUCTURE, LEVERAGE OTHER FUNDING STREAMS, AND RESOURCES IN BOTH DENBY AND EAST ENGLISH VILLAGE COMMUNITIES BY UPDATING OUR MESSAGING AND OUTREACH STRATEGIES. THE CAPACITY STEP FACILITATED BY THE PROJECT DIRECTOR AND COMMUNITY COORDINATORS, WILL ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS [OUTREACH], DEVELOP SITE-SPECIFIC COMMUNITY PREVENTION TEAMS, AND WORK WITH THE TEAMS TO RAISE AWARENESS [MESSAGING] OF THE PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE EPI REPORT. OVER THE ENSUING 9- TO 10-MONTH PERIOD EACH PREVENTION TEAM WILL ENGAGE IN STRATEGIC PLANNING FACILITATED BY THE COMMUNITY COORDINATORS AND DATA ANALYST. ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES WILL BE CONDUCTED TO FILL GAPS AS THEY ARE IDENTIFIED. MOST NOTABLE WILL BE THE COMPLETION OF EPI REPORTS FOR THE DENBY & EAST ENGLISH VILLAGE COMMUNITIES. THE REPORTS WILL DEMYSTIFY FACTORS INFLUENCING SUBSTANCE ABUSE; EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES, PROGRAMS, AND ACTIVITIES THAT PREVENT THE ONSET AND REDUCE THE PROGRESSION OF SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND ASSOCIATED PROBLEM BEHAVIORS. AN OUTLINE OF A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH INCLUDING A LOGIC MODEL AND 12-MONTH ACTION PLAN ARE KEY COMPONENTS OF THE EPI REPORT. EACH ACTION PLAN WILL DETAIL A MIX OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES SELECTED BY THE PREVENTION TEAMS. AT THE END OF THE 5-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD, THE CPI WILL EXPAND THE COALITION TO INCLUDE THREE COMMUNITY-SPECIFIC PREVENTION TEAMS, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF EVIDENCE-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES WORKING TO PREVENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG YOUTH AND ADULTS, AND SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASE THE USE RATES FOR ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA, AND OPIOIDS FOR BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS.

COPE DETROIT - COPE DETROIT WAS ESTABLISHED IN MAY 2021 UNDER THE FOLLOWING MISSION STATEMENT: TO PREVENT YOUTH AND ADULT SUBSTANCE ABUSE THROUGH COMMUNITYWIDE EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY IN THE EASTSIDE OF DETROIT. DETROIT IS IN WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN, AND THE LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE. THE DETROIT METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (MSA) IS ESTIMATED AT 4,296,250 (CENSUS, 2020) AND INCLUDES MACOMB, OAKLAND, AND WAYNE COUNTIES WITHIN A 3,888 SQ MILE AREA. IN 10 YEARS, THE CITY OF DETROIT POPULATION DROPPED 10% FROM 713,777 (2010) TO 639,111 (2020) AS MANY RESIDENTS RELOCATED TO THE SUBURBS OF OAKLAND AND MACOMB TO ESCAPE THE PROBLEMS PLAGUING OUR CITY TO THIS DAY. THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EASTSIDE INCLUDE A POPULATION OF 159,346 RESIDENTS OF WHICH 81% ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND MORE THAN 36 % OF THE CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE AND LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. THERE ARE 2,500 STUDENTS IN OUR TARGET SCHOOLS (DENBY, EAST ENGLISH PREP, SOUTHEASTERN, BREWER, AND HAMILTON) OF WHOM 99% ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN, AND 90% ARE FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. IN 2018, MICHIGAN STATE AND DETROIT EXPERIENCED A MAJOR SETBACK IN LAWS AND NORMS FAVORABLE TO DRUG USE. IT WAS THEN THAT MICHIGAN STATE VOTERS APPROVED THE LEGALIZATION OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA USE. WITHOUT A DOUBT THIS ACTION HAS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED DETROIT YOUTH, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES BY MAKING MARIJUANA MORE EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND MORE READILY AVAILABLE TO YOUTH. THE CONDITIONS IN AND AROUND DETROIT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE 58% INCREASE IN CURRENT MARIJUANA USE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH (17.6% IN 2015 TO 27.8% IN 2021) AND CURRENT ALCOHOL USE RATES AMONG HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH INCREASED FROM 22.6% IN 2015 TO 34.2% IN 2019. THE PURPOSE OF THE COPE DETROIT DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES PROJECT IS TO ESTABLISH AND STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION AMONG STAKEHOLDERS TO BETTER ADDRESS YOUTH SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND TO LEVERAGE THESE COLLABORATIONS TO SUSTAIN A SERIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES DESIGNED TO SYSTEMATICALLY REDUCE YOUT H SUBSTANCE ABUSE. COPE’S 12 SECTOR REPRESENTATIVE HAVE IDENTIFIED TWO SUBSTANCE ABUSE PRIORITIES—ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA—THAT ARE ADVERSELY IMPACTING THE YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN DETROIT. WORKING IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF DETROIT, DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, DETROIT WAYNE INTEGRATED HEALTH NETWORK, AND A REGIONAL ALLIANCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION NETWORK COALITIONS IN NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES COPE WILL ENGAGE IN MULTIPLE STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES: 1) REDUCE 30-DAY ALCOHOL USE AMONG 11TH GRADE STUDENTS FROM THE 2019 BASELINE OF 33.1% TO 29.8% (-3.3) BY 2024 AS MEASURED BY THE MICHIGAN PROFILE FOR HEALTHY YOUTH. 2027 TARGET: 6.6-POINT (20%) NET DECREASE; 26.5% OR LOWER. 2) REDUCE 30-DAY MARIJUANA USE AMONG 11TH GRADE STUDENTS FROM THE CURRENT 2019 BASELINE OF 28.8% TO 24.3% (-4.5) BY 2024 AS MEASURED BY THE MICHIGAN PROFILE FOR HEALTHY YOUTH. (2027 TARGET: 9-POINT (20%) NET DECREASE; 23% OR LOWER. COPE DETROIT IS TARGETING THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AGE YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE 5-YEAR PROJECT INCLUDE: 1) SECURING THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY TO ADDRESS SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION THROUGH WIDE-RANGING COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, 2) IMPROVING COALITION COMPETENCY THROUGH TRAININGS AND EDUCATION, 3) INCREASING AWARENESS OF THE ISSUES AROUND ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA WITH MULTIMODAL COMMUNICATIONS, 4) ENHANCING PARENTING SKILLS TO BUFFER EXPOSURE TO NEGATIVE INFLUENCES, 5) IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION MEDIA CAMPAIGN TARGETING ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA, 6) ENHANCING SCHOOL-BASED STUDENT PREVENTION CLUBS WITH TRAINING AND ACTIVITY SUPPORT, 7) ADVOCATING FOR SCHOOL DRUG AND ALCOHOL RESPONSE POLICY REVIEWS AND UPDATES, 8) CONDUCTING OUTREACH TARGETING UNDER-RESOURCED, UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES, AND 9) IMPROVING ACCESS TO PREVENTION RESOURCE FOR PARENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

EMPOWERMENT ZONE COALITION, INC.

EMPOWERMENT ZONE COALITION MHAT - EMPOWERMENT ZONE COALITION WILL PARTNER WITH DETROIT WAYNE INTEGRATED HEALTH NETWORK (MHA), CREATING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY DETROIT, AND 22 OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCIES TO TRAIN INDIVIDUALS IN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID. THE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING PROJECT WILL TRAIN A MINIMUM OF 300 EACH YEAR OF THE FIVE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD FOR A MINIMUM TOTAL OF 1,500 OR 80% OF THOSE COMMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN MHAT SPONSORED TRAININGS. YEAR 1 WILL TRAIN APPROXIMATELY 120 EMS, FIRE, AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF; 83 MHA’S; AND 97 CBOS. MHFA IS PROVEN EFFECTIVE AT: - GROWING TRAINEE KNOWLEDGE OF SIGNS, SYMPTOMS AND RISK FACTORS OF MENTAL ILLNESSES AND ADDICTIONS. - IDENTIFICATION OF MULTIPLE TYPES OF PROFESSIONAL AND SELF-HELP RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS OR ADDICTION. - INCREASING TRAINEE CONFIDENCE IN AND LIKELIHOOD TO HELP AN INDIVIDUAL IN DISTRESS. - SHOWING INCREASED MENTAL WELLNESS AMONG TRAINEES THEMSELVES. STUDIES ALSO SHOW THAT MHFA REDUCES THE SOCIAL DISTANCE CREATED BY NEGATIVE ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES. THE GOAL OF THE EZC MHAT PROJECT IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WAYNE COUNTY YOUTH RECEIVING TREATMENT FOR SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI) AND/OR SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE (SED) FROM THE BASELINE OF 36% TO 63% (75% NET INCREASE) OVER THE FIVE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL THE PROJECT WILL WORK TOWARD THE FOLLOWING PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: OBJECTIVE 1: INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CERTIFIED MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINERS FROM THE CURRENT NUMBER (2) BY 100% TO 4 BY SEPTEMBER 29, 2022. OBJECTIVE 2: INCREASE THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS TRAINED TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL DISORDERS FROM THE CURRENT NUMBER TO BE ESTABLISHED BY 25% ANNUALLY BY SEPTEMBER 29, 2026. OBJECTIVE 3: INCREASE THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BY 1,500 BY SEPTEMBER 29, 2026. OBJECTIVE 4: INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LINKAGES TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES BY 25% ANNUALLY FROM THE BASELINE TO BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE FIRST 4 MONTHS OF THE PROJECT PERIOD BY SEPTEMBER 29, 2026.

EMPOWERMENT ZONE COALITION, INC.

EMPOWERMENT ZONE COALITION