A community plan
of action 
It
is time for a change!
Goals for the Community
Awareness & Education Campaign on the Effects of Underage Drinking & Adolescent
Substance Abuse.
This
focused community awareness program will target both youth and adults.
Youth
audiences will be divided into:
a) Youth 15 and up (zero
tolerance for driving, social consequences of underage drinking)
b) Youth 14
and below (social norms change, image)
Adult
audiences will be divided into:
a) Adult providers (laws,
consequences)
b) Parents (communication, setting a positive example)
Goal #1 Reduce the number of
youth who have drank alcohol in the past 30 days from 37% to 27%
Actions:
- Education through
school assemblies and classroom presentations
- Community awareness
through
- Local newspapers,
magazines and periodicals
- Radio and
Television
- Movie theaters
- Town Hall Meetings
- Focused efforts during
prom, red ribbon week, spring break and holidays
Goal # 2 Reduce the number of
youth who have driven while or after drinking alcohol from 30% to 14%
Actions:
- Contact local judges
to seek recommendations for implementing additional education requirements
for families whose child has been convicted of driving under the influence
or any alcohol related citation
- Strengthening current
driver education programs
- Education through
school assemblies and classroom presentations
- Community awareness
through
- Local newspapers,
magazines and periodicals
- Radio and
Television
- Movie theaters
- Town Hall Meetings
- Focused efforts during
prom, red ribbon week, spring break and holidays
Goal #3 Reduce the number of
youth who plan to use alcohol in the future from 40% to 30%
Actions:
- Implement social norms
change through student councils and other student groups
- Provide media literacy
training for youth and parents
- Generate community
awareness concerning marketing tactics focused toward minors
- Education through
school assemblies and classroom presentations
Goal #4 Generate awareness of
the availability of family skills trainings in Midland
Actions:
- Distribute a list of
parent skills training available
Goal #5 Increase the
opportunities for family communication concerning underage drinking, tobacco and
drug abuse
Actions:
- Create a family packet
that includes age appropriate “talking points” concerning underage drinking,
tobacco and drug abuse.
- Utilize local students
in the implementation of the family packet to provide adults with youth
perspectives.
- Make the family packet
available on local community organization, church and business web sites.
- Implement a business
family awareness program that companies can provide for their employees.
- Include awareness and
talking points on psa’s and existing community events.
- Distribute the family
packet through PTA’s, Judges, Churches, and multiple community locations.
Goal #6 Support the Midland City
Council Youth Advisory Board to examine local policies and issues which effect
young people in Midland and provide recommendations for policy changes
Actions:
- Provide training and
assistance in reviewing local polices which effect young people
- Provide resources to
help young people understand environmental prevention through policy change
Goal #7 Create alcohol free safe
zones for children and families at all community festivals and events.
Actions:
- Study all community
festivals and events for 12 months to discover the current trends
- Make local policy
recommendations to create alcohol free safe zones for families
at all community festivals and events.
Goals #8
Eliminate opportunities for “beer runs” and illegal alcohol sales to minors
in retail establishments.
Actions:
- Work with local
retailers concerning alcohol placement
- Work with law
enforcement to continue compliance checks, shoulder taps and beverage server
training
Goal #9 Reduce
the number of adults illegally providing alcohol to minors.
Actions:
- Increase community
awareness about state laws concerning underage drinking
- Educate adult about
the effects of alcohol on the developing adolescent brain