I'm inviting you to join our efforts to reduce underage drinking and youth substance abuse in the West Seattle community. A current strategy we would like to work on is a partnership between the coalition and area businesses in the 98116 zip code.

We would like the business sector to support a Community Covenant and each business will receive a window decal stating, “This business is participating to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors”.

What follows is the Grant Proposal that explains what the Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership is and what the grant being applied for would accomplish.

Drug Free Communities
Grant Proposal Summary

What is Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership?
Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership (SWHYP) is a community coalition serving the West Seattle community, “Our Mission is to eliminate underage drinking and youth substance abuse by setting “no use” expectations in schools, in families and in the community and by increasing healthy options for children and youth.” Currently based out of Madison Middle School, SWHYP will be based out of Navos Community Mental Health if Drug Free Communities funding is received.

What is the Drug Free Communities Grant?
Drug Free Communities (DFC) is a federal grant program through the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Organizations are eligible for up to $125,000 per year in DFC monies which fund community anti-drug coalitions and their prevention strategies. Funded strategies must be aimed at creating community-wide change, known as environmental strategies.

What is the problem?
In 2006, Madison Middle School was awarded a Strategic Prevention Framework – State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG) from the Washington State Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) to address West Seattle’s underage drinking rates, which are higher than the state average. In addition to high youth alcohol use rates, teenagers in West Seattle report marijuana use at rates higher than the state average. DFC funds will enable SWHYP to continue its work as a coalition and expand its prevention strategies to include those that address marijuana.

What has the coalition done?
Currently, the coalition uses SPF-SIG funds to implement four evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs: Guiding Good Choices parenting workshops in partnership with Parent Tool School and Puget Sound Educational School District; Staying Connected with Your Teen parenting workshops in partnership with Parent Tool School; Creating Lasting Family Connections in partnership with Safe Futures Youth Center and Life Skills Training Middle School Curriculum at Madison Middle School. These four programs are not considered environmental strategies and will not receive DFC support. Current environmental strategies include a Hospitality Workgroup and a Madison Parent Pledge and Directory. SWHYP also funds a Prevention-Intervention Specialist who serves Madison Middle School on a full-time basis.

What is being proposed?
DFC grants require coalitions to address two goals:
1. Strengthen collaboration among community members, organizations, businesses and government agencies to support substance prevention efforts.
2. Reduce alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other substance use among youth.

To strengthen community collaboration, SWHYP will continue its coalition-building activities, including outreach to individuals and organizations that are concerned about healthy youth development and reducing substance abuse; and we will cultivate relationships with law enforcement, city government officials and county government officials to increase implementation of local policies and enforcement of underage drinking laws and youth substance use.

To reduce youth substance use, Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership is proposing the following three new prevention strategies in their DFC proposal:
· Conducting enforcement roundtable discussions with Seattle Police Department and King County Juvenile Detention, to address enforcement issues.
· Social norms campaign targeting parents regarding true community norms around youth substance use;
· Alcohol purchase surveys with a reward and reminder component to support retailers in their efforts to sell alcohol to adults only.

Questions?
Renaé T. Gaines, Community Coordinator, at (206) 252-9179 or rtgaines@seattleschools.org

Madison Middle School
3429 45th Avenue S.W.