Elkton Alliance Inc

ELKTON ALLIANCE DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES COALITION - THE ELKTON ALLIANCE DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES COALITION PROPOSES TO INCREASE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND REDUCE YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE IN ELKTON, MD. THE TWO PRIMARY SUBSTANCES USED BY YOUTH IN ELKTON ARE TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL. THE NEED FOR ENHANCED EFFORTS IN THESE AREAS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGH BOTH QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA. SOME OF THE ISSUES SURROUNDING THESE CHALLENGES INCLUDE LOW PERCEPTION OF RISK OF HARM, AND COMMUNITY NORMS SURROUNDING YOUTH ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, A LACK OF COMPLIANCE CHECKS IN COMMUNITY LIQUOR STORES, LIMITED RETAILER EDUCATION, ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND A LACK OF RESOURCES TO EQUIP YOUTH WITH LEADERSHIP AND EMPOWERMENT TRAINING. THE FOCUS POPULATION FOR THIS GRANT WILL BE YOUTH AGES 12-18, OF ALL RACIAL BACKGROUNDS. YOUTH IN THE FOCUS POPULATION WILL BE OFFERED OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL BASED PREVENTION CLUBS (ALREADY ESTABLISHED AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL, WITH DEVELOPMENT UNDERWAY FOR ELKTON AND CHERRY HILL MIDDLE), IN AN ANNUAL YOUTH PREVENTION RALLY (TO BE HELD AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL), AND IN AN ANNUAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT. THE ELKTON ALLIANCE COALITION HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE IN THE ELKTON AREA, AS IT IS THE PRIMARY LOCATION OF SUBSIDIZED HOUSING IN CECIL COUNTY, MD, AND IS HOME TO THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ON FREE AND REDUCED MEALS (FARMS), AND HAS THE GREATEST PERCENTAGE OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE COUNTY. ELKTON ALSO HAS MORE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AS STUDENTS THAN SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THE STRATEGIES OUTLINED IN OUR ACTION PLAN ARE DESIGNED WITH THESE POPULATIONS IN MIND. (FOR EXAMPLE- OUR YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT ADDRESSES ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, YOUTH ATTENDING CADCA’S MID YEAR TRAINING INSTITUTE STUDY SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, STUDENT DEVELOPED MATERIALS ARE TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH, SIGNAGE WILL BE ADDED IN AREAS THESE YOUTH HAVE A HISTORY OF PURCHASING/OBTAINING ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS, WITH YOUTH FROM LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS BEING HEAVILY RECRUITED.) WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE PART OF DRUG FREE CECIL, WHICH HAS A DEDICATED YOUTH COALITION MADE UP OF STUDENTS FROM ALL 5 COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS. NEARLY 40 STUDENT LEADERS MEET MONTHLY TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND PREVENTION SKILLS AND THEN USE THAT TRAINING TO RUN SCHOOL BASED PREVENTION CLUBS. FOR THE ELKTON COALITION WE RECRUIT STUDENT LEADERS FROM ELKTON HIGH, AND ALSO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THE SCHOOL BASED PREVENTION CLUB. COALITION MEMBERS ATTEND EVENTS HELD BY AND FOR THE YOUTH COALITION, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS RELATIONAL MODEL ALLOWS US TO HAVE EXCELLENT YOUTH RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND ENGAGEMENT. COALITION MEMBERS BECOME PART OF THE “VILLAGE” THAT SUPPORTS AND ENCOURAGES OUR YOUTH.