Health Equity Council

ABC PREVENT COALITION: A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH TO PREVENT YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE IN BERNALILLO COUNTY - THE HEALTH EQUITY COUNCIL (HEC) PROPOSES ALBUQUERQUE BERNALILLO COUNTY PREVENTION COALITION (ABC PREVENT), A COALITION-LED INITIATIVE TO PREVENT AND REDUCE YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE IN BERNALILLO COUNTY, NEW MEXICO. CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSE OF THE DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES (DFC) SUPPORT PROGRAM, ABC PREVENT WILL STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION AMONG COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND IMPLEMENT COORDINATED, COMMUNITY-LEVEL PREVENTION STRATEGIES THAT REDUCE RISK FACTORS AND PROMOTE PROTECTIVE FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE. THE INITIATIVE RESPONDS TO LOCAL DATA SHOWING CONCERNING PATTERNS OF EARLY EXPOSURE TO AND USE OF NICOTINE AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS, INCLUDING E-CIGARETTES, ALCOHOL, AND MARIJUANA, AND TO THE NEED FOR EARLIER, MORE COORDINATED PREVENTION DURING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS. ABC PREVENT WILL FOCUS PRIMARILY ON MIDDLE SCHOOL–AGED YOUTH WHILE ALSO ENGAGING THE FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY SYSTEMS THAT SHAPE YOUTH NORMS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND DECISION-MAKING. HEC WILL SERVE AS THE BACKBONE ORGANIZATION FOR THE ABC PREVENT, COORDINATING PARTNERS ACROSS THE REQUIRED DFC SECTORS AROUND A SHARED PREVENTION AGENDA. PROJECT STRATEGIES WILL INCLUDE EVIDENCE-BASED YOUTH PREVENTION EDUCATION, SUBSTANCE-FREE YOUTH ACTIVITIES, CAREGIVER EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION SUPPORT, YOUTH-INFORMED PREVENTION MESSAGING, COALITION COORDINATION, AND REINFORCEMENT OF HEALTHY NORMS ACROSS SCHOOL, COMMUNITY, BUSINESS, CIVIC, FAITH-BASED, HEALTHCARE, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND GOVERNMENT SETTINGS. YEAR 1 ACTIVITIES WILL FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING COALITION INFRASTRUCTURE, ORIENTING PARTNERS TO SHARED ROLES AND EXPECTATIONS, REVIEWING AND APPLYING LOCAL DATA, LAUNCHING PREVENTION PROGRAMMING, ESTABLISHING CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROCESSES, AND PREPARING FOR REQUIRED DFC REPORTING AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE STRONGER COALITION CAPACITY AND CROSS-SECTOR COORDINATION; INCREASED YOUTH REFUSAL SKILLS, COPING, DECISION-MAKING, AND PERCEPTION OF RISK; IMPROVED CAREGIVER COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT FOR PREVENTION; MORE CONSISTENT PREVENTION MESSAGING ACROSS SETTINGS; AND GREATER ACCESS TO SUBSTANCE-FREE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH. OVER THE FIVE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD, ABC PREVENT AIMS TO DELAY INITIATION OF SUBSTANCE USE, REDUCE EARLY AND OVERLAPPING EXPOSURE TO NICOTINE AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS, ALCOHOL, AND MARIJUANA, AND STRENGTHEN SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PREVENTION INFRASTRUCTURE IN BERNALILLO COUNTY. EVALUATION WILL INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN THE DFC NATIONAL CROSS-SITE EVALUATION AND USE OF LOCAL SURVEILLANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION DATA TO SUPPORT ACCOUNTABILITY, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, AND LONG-TERM IMPACT.

DESCRIPTION: THE PURPOSE OF THIS AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS FUND BERNALILLO COUNTY COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL'S ACTIVITIES TO INCREASE FREE LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE WHILE REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS AND PESTICIDE USE IN THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM. SPECIFICALLY, EPA FUNDING WILL BE USED IN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT ZIP CODE 87108 FOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON THE TARGET COMMUNITY THROUGH THE COORDINATION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD HUB PLAN INCLUDING, 11 COMMITTEE-LED MEETINGS TO SUPPORT LOCAL GARDENERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO MONTHLY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS AND FOOD-SHARING NETWORKS; ADDITIONALLY, THE URBAN AG COMMITTEE WILL SUPPORT 2 GARDEN DEMONSTRATION BUILD-OUTS, AND 1 URBAN AG SITE REVITALIZATION PROJECT. PARTNERING WITH TREE NM TO COLLECT AIR QUALITY DATA ON CARBON EMISSIONS, VOC'S, AND TEMPERATURE (HEAT ISLAND INDEX). RESEARCH ON AIR QUALITY, AND IMPACT OF GREEN SPACES ON CITIES. TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT, 6 PUBLIC WORKSHOPS ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES WILL BE HELD AT URBAN AG SITES ON: AIR POLLUTION AND ASTHMA, POLLINATORS NOT PESTICIDES, AND SOIL BUILDING WITH COVER-CROP/MUSHROOMS. EIGHT I.D. GREEN YOUTH CORPS COHORT MEMBERS WILL ATTEND THESE WORKSHOPS AND ENGAGE IN A YOUTH WORKING GROUP. IN SPRING OF 2022 THEY WILL INSTALL 6 AIR QUALITY MONITORS AT 3 BCCUAP SITES AND 3 CONGESTED INTERSECTIONS. THIS PROPOSAL CULMINATES IN AN AIR POLLUTION PROJECT AND NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD HUB PLAN PRESENTATION EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE AN INCREASE OF LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE AT FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS; DEVELOPMENT OF A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN, INCLUDING LONG TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO SUSTAIN GARDENS AND NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD HUB PLAN; AND AN IMPROVEMENT OF AIR QUALITY, AND WATER RETENTION BY GARDENING WITH WATER-WISE METHODS. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES ARE RESIDENTS OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, 87108. THE PROJECT MEETS THE FOLLOWING STATUTORY AUTHORITY: CLEAN AIR ACT 103: (B)AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES OF ADMINISTRATOR IN ESTABLISHING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN CARRYING OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THE PRECEDING SUBSECTION THE ADMINISTRATOR IS AUTHORIZED TO— (3) MAKE GRANTS TO AIR POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCIES, TO OTHER PUBLIC OR NONPROFIT PRIVATE AGENCIES, INSTITUTIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND TO INDIVIDUALS, FOR PURPOSES STATED IN SUBSECTION (A)(1) OF THIS SECTION; (A)(1): CONDUCT, AND PROMOTE THE COORDINATION AND ACCELERATION OF, RESEARCH, INVESTIGATIONS, EXPERIMENTS, DEMONSTRATIONS, SURVEYS, AND STUDIES RELATING TO THE CAUSES, EFFECTS (INCLUDING HEALTH AND WELFARE EFFECTS), EXTENT, PREVENTION, AND CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION; NOTE: TRAINING IS ALSO AUTHORIZED IN 103(B)(5) (5)CONDUCT AND PROMOTE COORDINATION AND ACCELERATION OF TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS RELATING TO THE CAUSES, EFFECTS, EXTENT, PREVENTION, AND CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION. ACTIVITIES: 1. BERNALILLO COUNTY URBAN AG COMMITTEE MEETINGS - CONVENE 11 MONTHLY MEETINGS FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT RESIDENTS AND SUPPORTERS WITH THE FOCUS ON CREATING A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN, EPA WORKING GROUP, FOOD DISTRIBUTION, AND DEVELOPING YOUTH COMPONENT OF GRANT 2. NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD HUB PLANNING COMMITTEE - CONVENE 10 MEETINGS TO CONNECT LOCAL FARMERS AND I.D. GARDENERS WITH RESOURCES TO SUPPORT MONTHLY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS AND A FARMER'S MARKET, WHICH PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS FOR GROWER'S TO DONATE EXCESS PRODUCE AND HERBS. 3. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WORKSHOP SERIES - FACILITATE 6 WORKSHOPS ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND ECOLOGICAL HEALTH FROM SPRING TO SUMMER 2022. WORKSHOPS WILL BE LED BY ID COMMUNITY LEADERS INCLUDING 2 YOUTH LEADERS FROM TREE NEW MEXICO. 4. SOIL TESTING AND GARDEN BUILD OUTS - BEFORE AND AFTER SOIL TESTING AT 6 URBAN AG SITES AND 1 DEMONSTRATION SITE RECEIVES BEFORE AND AFTER SOIL TESTING (POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS, RCRA METALS) . 5. PARTNER WITH TREE NM TO OFFER A PROJECT BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITY (PBLO) ON AIR QUALITY TO 8 YOUTH AGES 14-21. PARTICIPANTS WILL ATTE