Groundswell Group Inc

WEPA IS A SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION FOCUSED ON PREVENTION STRATEGIES TARGETING BIPOC YOUTH FROM 12-18 YEARS OLD IN THE NORTH BRONX OF NEW YORK CITY - THE GROUNDSWELL GROUP’S WEPA COALITION (WE ENGAGE IN PREVENTION AWARENESS) IS A DIVERSE COLLECTIVE OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE NORTH BRONX DEDICATED TO ERADICATING SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND ADDICTION AMONG YOUTH, THEREBY FOSTERING MORE JUST, PEACEFUL, AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES WHERE YOUTH AND FAMILIES CAN THRIVE. OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, THE BRONX HAS CONSISTENTLY REPORTED SOME OF THE WORST HEALTH STATISTICS IN THE NATION, INCLUDING IN NEW YORK STATE, WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE REMAINING A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE WELL-BEING AND FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY’S YOUTH. IN 2019, THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT’S ASSESSMENT IDENTIFIED SUBSTANCE ABUSE ASSISTANCE AS ONE OF THE TOP TEN BASIC NEEDS IN THE NORTH BRONX COMMUNITY. SIMILARLY, IN THE MOST RECENT DYCD ASSESSMENT OF 2022, SCHOOL PRINCIPALS EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE ASSISTANCE AMONG THE TOP 10 SERVICES NEEDED FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS, HIGHLIGHTING THE LACK OF ACCESSIBILITY TO SUCH SERVICES. THE COALITION AIMS TO PREVENT ADDICTION BY TARGETING THE USE OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS AMONG YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES. COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS INDICATE THAT BRONX YOUTH ARE INITIATING THE USE OF ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA AS EARLY AS AGE 12, WITH THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND RECENT SOCIAL UNREST EXACERBATING THESE FACTORS. CONCERNS AMONG PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND YOUTH ABOUT THE RISING CYCLE OF ADDICTION UNDERSCORE THE URGENCY OF ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE EFFECTIVELY. THE COALITION’S GOAL IS TO PROVIDE TARGETED PREVENTION STRATEGIES TO FILL THE GAP IN PREVENTION AWARENESS AND EDUCATION, THEREBY REDUCING THE EXHAUSTIVE NEED FOR ADDICTION SERVICES AND TREATMENT. IF AWARDED THE GRANT, THE COALITION WILL EMPOWER YOUTH AGED 12-18 WITH EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL COMPETENCY AND TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR LIVES. BOTVIN'S LIFE SKILLS WILL SERVE AS THE EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM (EBP), ALIGNED WITH AN ACTION PLAN AND LOGIC MODEL, FACILITATING ENGAGEMENT WITH YOUTH IN SCHOOLS, FAITH COMMUNITIES, AFTER-SCHOOL CENTERS, AND OTHER YOUTH GATHERING PLACES. ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES WILL ALSO BE ADVANCED IN THE COMMUNITY USING SAMHSA'S STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK AND THE SEVEN STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE. THE COALITION’S DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS WILL COLLABORATE TO INTRODUCE A RANGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMS TO GARNER COMMUNITY SUPPORT. THROUGH ENGAGEMENT, INFORMATION, AND EDUCATION, YOUTH, PARENTS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WILL BE INFORMED ABOUT THE DANGERS OF SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITY PREVENTION STRATEGIES TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND ADDICTION. PREVENTION STRATEGIES WILL FOCUS ON ENGAGING YOUTH IN SCHOOLS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY CENTERS, PROVIDING THEM AND THEIR PARENTS WITH THE EDUCATION, INFORMATION, AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO BUILD HEALTHY, DRUG-FREE ENVIRONMENTS. YOUTH WILL DEVELOP CLEAR GOALS FOR THEIR FUTURES, MOTIVATING THEM TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES AND AVOID ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR YOUTH TO BOND WITH ONE ANOTHER THROUGH PREVENTION RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FROM THE GROUNDSWELL/WEPA COALITION, ENABLING THEM TO LEAD HAPPY, HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE, AND SUCCESSFUL LIVES.