The Adams County Youth Prevention Coalition has recently been recognized for its efforts to reduce alcohol misuse, receiving a highly competitive Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant. The coalition was awarded $125,000 annually for the next five years, with the possibility of renewal for another five. This grant marks a significant achievement for the coalition, especially as it was the first time applying.
According to Sherry Stout, executive director of the Adams County Medical Foundation (ACMF), this success was made possible through assistance from Ohio University’s Strategic Prevention Framework Partnerships for Success Communities of Practice in Southeast Ohio (SPF-PFS in SEO) initiative. The initiative, coordinated by the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, began in 2019 through a $1.5 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). “Without the SPF-PFS grant, we wouldn’t have been noticed or been able to pull something like this together,” Stout noted.
The DFC grant will allow the Adams County Youth Prevention Coalition to expand its efforts in preventing alcohol misuse among youth. Dr. Holly Raffle, professor at the Voinovich School, highlighted that alcohol misuse remains a major concern, with long-term impacts on health and family well-being. The coalition’s work focuses on equipping parents and community members to have conversations with youth about the risks of alcohol use.
In Adams County, youth substance use has been a pressing issue, with over 100 students expelled in 2022 for repeated violations of the Ohio Valley School District’s substance use policy, primarily related to vaping. To address this, ACMF collaborated with local schools, law enforcement, and the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office to implement a diversion program using the evidence-based curriculum Not On Tobacco. This program provides students with an educational path to return to the classroom, with parental involvement and support from the coalition.
“This isn’t just about telling students not to do it,” said Danielle Poe, director of behavioral health at the Ohio Valley School District. “It’s about offering them a way to stop and giving them the tools they need to make better choices.”
The ongoing support from Ohio University’s P4CBP initiative, along with the backing of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, continues to drive the coalition’s efforts. Looking ahead, the coalition plans to apply for additional grants to further its mission of reducing youth alcohol and substance misuse in Adams County.
