Our Work
We generate local solutions for local problems.
With the support of community partners, coalition members move data-driven prevention strategies from vision to practice. We focus on preventing youth from using marijuana and alcohol, the two substances with the highest prevalence among Oregon City youth. Preventing vaping and misuse of prescription drugs is also part of our work.
We work with the community to:
- Identify community needs.
- Mobilize and build capacity to address needs.
- Develop and conduct prevention strategies.
- Monitor and evaluate results.
- Sustain what works well.
Recent and current strategies and activities include the following examples:
Strategy: Generate awareness and education for parents, youth, teens and community members.
- Sponsor speakers such as Kevin Brooks, Jermaine Galloway (the Tall Cop) and Dr. Karen Williams.
- Host Healthy Futures Film Series, showing movies such as The Ripple Effect, Angst, LIKE and The Upstanders.
- Provide “Smart Choices” all-day workshop for middle-schoolers to build resiliency skills.
- Participate in middle school transitions fairs and open houses.
- Develop and implement new middle school after-school club to build resiliency skills.
- Provide campaigns on teen brain development, stress reduction, social media, vaping cessation and other topics related to effective prevention.
Strategy: Support parents because they are the best anti-drug.
- Provide “No Fooling about Juuling” and other parent workshops.
- Providing ongoing information and updates.
Strategy: Reduce youth access to drugs and alcohol.
- Support enforcement to make sure retailers are not selling to minors.
- Educate retailers.
- Educate parents and others on how youth obtain drugs and alcohol.
- Support policy to keep marijuana outlets away from schools and youth.
- Create pilot project with vape sensors in schools.
- Support Oregon’s new Tobacco 21 law and flavored vape ban.
Build capacity and leadership.
- Sponsor youth and adults to local, regional and national trainings.
- Provide information and training to members and community stakeholders.