The Winona County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (ASAP) is proud to announce that we have been approved for a Drug Free Communities grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Over five years, the grant will provide $532,974 in federal funds plus an equal amount in matching funds, including in-kind contributions of volunteer hours and services.
Through this grant we will be hiring a full time Program Coordinator. Click here to download the job description. Apply online at under Careers.
ASAP Goals:
- Mission
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To create a drug-free youth culture within our schools and community through community-wide collaboration. We work together to raise awareness and reduce substance use with a primary focus on our youth.
- Vision
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Resources will be available to address the situations and circumstances that lead young people to drink or to abuse drugs. The result is a community with a much reduced incidence of substance abuse by young people.
- Action Plan
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You are invited to review the Action Plan submitted as part of our 2015 Drug Free Communities grant application and share your feedback. If you would like to be involved with any of the strategies described in the plan, please email [email protected]
- Alliance Presentations & Minutes
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Coalition notes: September 10, 2012 November 19, 2012 December 09, 2013 February 05, 2014 May 16, 2014 November 11, 2014 August 17, 2015
Presentations: December 9, 2013 February 5, 2014 May 16, 2014 November 11, 2014
Data and Evaluation committee notes: June 23, 2014 August 13, 2104 November 11, 2014
Strategies and Programs committee notes: June 25, 2014 July 22, 2014 November 11, 2014
- DFC Background
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The Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC) is a Federal grant program that provides funding to community-based coalitions that organize to prevent youth substance use. Since the passage of the , the DFC program has funded nearly 2,000 coalitions and currently mobilizes nearly 9,000 community volunteers across the country. The philosophy behind the DFC program is that local drug problems require local solutions. With a small Federal investment, the DFC program doubles the amount of funding through the DFC program’s match requirement, to address youth substance use. Recent evaluation data indicates that where DFC dollars are invested, youth substance use is lower. Over the life of the DFC program, youth living in DFC communities have experienced reductions in alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use.
Borrowed from www.whitehouse.gov - Alliance Formation & History
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In July of 2012, a representative of Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center contacted the staff of Live Well Winona (LWW), a Winona based non-profit organization that serves as a community health hub. The representative was a substance abuse counselor, who had seen many cases of young people deeply affected by substance use, and who wanted to develop and implement a community-wide preventative approach to reduce and prevent youth substance use.
Through a series of meetings organized and facilitated by LWW, the concept of a community based coalition to serve as a catalyst for reducing local substance abuse problems was introduced and explained to key stakeholders, who endorsed the public health model and the creation of the coalition: Winona County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention. Accomplishments of the coalition include the following:
- A presentation to the coalition by the Grant Manager of the Chemical Health Initiative of Goodhue County, about their coalition and success with a DFC grant;
- A presentation to the coalition by the Coordinator of Whitewater Country Coalition about the work of the coalition and opportunities for collaboration;
- A mini-training of the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) model by the Regional ATOD Prevention Coordinator; additionally, a member of the Steering Committee attended SPF training;
- Distribution of a survey “invitation” to key collaborators to assess capacity, community readiness and geographic area to serve;
- Establishment of a Steering Committee, which included representatives from the Ministerial Council, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Winona County, United Way of Greater Winona Area, and Live Well Winona;
- Developed coalition “job descriptions”, identified/recruited sector representatives and additional coalition members; developed e-mail list of key stakeholders;
- Applied for a DFC Mentor Grant in 2014 (not awarded);
- Creation of coalition branding through selection of a name and mission statement, and development of a logo and brochure;
- Developed draft bylaws;
- Development of a temporary web presence through LWW’s website, containing coalition history, local data sources for substance use, a list of resources and programs, articles, and a coalition member recruitment section. Once funded, the coalition will develop a fully independent ASAP website;
- Compilation of list of existing or historical anti-drug strategies in the community;
- Received a presentation form the Minnesota State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup on the substance use data website: www.sumn.org;
- Identification/collection/analysis of quantitative data sources, i.e. Minnesota Student Survey, Winona Health Community Health Needs Assessment, Minnesota Substance Use Data (SUMN.org), court and law enforcement records; hospital records, demographic information;
- Establishment of Data & Evaluation Committee to identify data sources to inform the coalition’s work and to establish an evaluation protocol to determine the effectiveness of the strategies in accomplishing the coalition’s goals;
- Establishment of a Strategies and Programming Committee to compile a roster of available services in the community and to research and recommend evidence-based strategies to the coalition;
- Hosted presentation by a local graduate student who analyzed the level of underage drinking offenses in Winona County in the wake of a judicial policy change;
- Collection of qualitative data through youth focus groups conducted by a community health class at Winona State University, including both public and private school students in the community;
- Completion of a Needs Assessment by the aforementioned college students based on interviews and literature reviews. They researched many prevention programs, and provided the coalition with a recommendation of three programs; Project Alert (substance abuse reduction/resistance program for 7th/8th graders), Life Skills Training (personal self-management/social skills training for middle school students), and Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) to help with analysis of health education curriculum;
- Presence at Winona County Fair to increase awareness of coalition and youth substance abuse issues;
- Town hall meeting to discuss the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs by young people in our target area. The meeting featured presentations by several local professionals who have direct experience with and knowledge of youth substance use;
- Received a mini-grant from the Minnesota Youth Council, and additional financial contributions from key stakeholders, to host viewings of the youth-made documentary State of Using. (Viewings are scheduled for late March, 2015 at high schools in Winona and Lewiston and will include a panel discussion following the documentary to facilitate community conversation around substance use among our youth.
ASAP continues to meet and share new information to keep members informed of current resources, support substance abuse prevention efforts across the community, and initiate additional prevention opportunities. Initial assessment has been done to define the substance abuse problem. Mobilization of key stakeholders demonstrates our capacity to address these needs. We are in the planning stages, developing a comprehensive strategic approach to address the challenges that we’ve identified. Future plans to build infrastructure involve continued following of the Strategic Prevention Framework model through the implementation and evaluation stages.
- Join the Alliance
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The centerpiece of the Drug Free Community program is an alliance of representatives from a dozen segments of the local community. In recruiting members of the Alliance, the leadership team will follow the policies and practices recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Alliance must have sector representation from:
- Youth
- Parent
- Business
- Media
- School
- Youth Serving Organization
- Law Enforcement
- Civic/Volunteer groups
- Healthcare Professional
- State, local, or tribal governmental agency with expertise in the field of substance abuse
- Religious/Fraternal
- Other Organization Involved In Reducing Substance Abuse
If you are interested in participating in this Alliance, please answer the following questions and email them to [email protected] or mail to 619 Huff Street, Winona, MN 55987.
1) Why would you like to serve on this Alliance?
2) Are you aware of any additional local substance abuse related programs or resources apart from the ones listed on this webpage?
- Data
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Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment – A Research-Based Guide
Data Source Data Court Download Saint Mary’s University Download Winona State University Download Impaired Driving Statistics – County Download Winona County Student Survey
St Charles
Lewiston
WinonaDownload
Download
Download
DownloadFocus Group – public school Download Focus Group – private school Download - Resources & Programs
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- is a comprehensive addiction information hub, including information about the dangers of abusing, and a review of the top treatment centers .
- offers DUI classes, assessments, and outpatient treatment.
- is a 12 step program through Pleasant Valley Church.
- Family & Children’s Center offers treatment of chemical dependency for adults or children if there’s a co-diagnosis with mental illness.
- offers chemical use assessments, Rule 25 assessments, and individual and group outpatient substance abuse treatment. The department works with individuals and families struggling with chemical dependency issues. Ongoing aftercare programs are also available. The substance abuse team works closely with the outpatient therapy department to treat clients who have both substance abuse and mental health issues. The agency also offers CORE Group to provide support and education for individuals to gain insight on the impact of chemical use on mental health issues.
- High schools
- Mock crash for prom at the schools
- Forums for parents and students – Cotter
- Minnesota-AST (Alcohol Server Training). Lacks full participation.
- . Hiawatha Valley partners with the Winona Area Public Schools to provide an integrated setting of chemical health and mental health service in a learning atmosphere. Staff assist youth with learning better coping techniques to address their individualized concerns during the school day and also receive their academic programming.
- is a program for 10-18 year olds that are at-risk or low level offenders. Offers a mentor program, work on communication and social/emotional development, and a variety of ‘circles’ including chemical awareness to focus on the consequences of using. Download program information sheet or brochure.
- Saint Mary’s University:
- seminar for all new students
- Alcohol 101, 201 and 301 classes
- Social Host Ordinance (misdemeanor to allow underage drinking on your property). Not county-wide.
- Wenden Recovery Services, Inc can help with the inability to control drinking or drug use, alienating friends and family, legal problems, severe depression and general unhappiness due to excessive drug or alcohol use. Outpatient treatment.
- is a licensed outpatient mental health clinic and outpatient chemical dependency treatment facility.
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offers both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric and counseling services.
- Winona State University:
- AlcoholEdu – online assessment for incoming freshmen
- – Getting the Facts. Peer facilitated, face-to-face education and prevention course
- Educational presentations during the year (eg Film Exposition: How Drinking Affects Our Community)
- Assessments on the attitudes, beliefs, and use of illegal and prescription drug use and abuse on campus
- Articles
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, The New York Times, Published October 24, 2013
, The New York Times, Published July 2, 2013
, Winona Daily News, Published October 20, 2013
, Winona Daily News, Published October 21, 2013
, Winona Daily News, Published October 22, 2013
, National Institutes of Health, Published January 23, 2014
, Winona Daily News, Published February 14, 2014
Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment – A Research-Based Guide
A guide for Healthy, Safe, and Drug Free Western Wisconsin Youth
, Winona Daily News, Published February 17, 2015