1. West Hartford Partnerships for success 2016 - 2020
Project Overview

2. Partnerships for Success - Outcomes -
Reducing and Preventing…
Underage alcohol consumption (aged 12-20)
Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs among youth (aged 12-25)
Targeting shared risk factors: Social Access & Risk Perception
Increasing local capacity for Coalition-based substance use prevention work

3. Community Coalition
Grantee Organization
State Evaluation
Funding Agency

4. Coalition Membership
WHPP includes stakeholders from the following organizations:
Institute for Community Research
West Hartford Dept. of Social Services
West Hartford Public Schools
The Bridge Family Center/ West Hartford Teen Center
West Hartford Parent Teacher Organization
West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District
Hartford Dispensary
West Hartford Police Department

5. Coalition Staffing
Paid Staff are based at the Institute for Community Research
Jean Schensul, Ph.D – Project supervisor
Mitchell Irving, MPH – Coalition Coordinator
David Reyes, BA – Senior Peer Advocate
Lillian Oliveira – Peer Advocate
Emily Melnick, MA – External Evaluator

6. Separation of Roles WHPP Coalition ICR SAPC
Project planning & implementation through Sub-Committees (Youth, Parent, Seniors, Communications)
Volunteer group coordinated by ICR; can include members from SAPC & partnerships with other stakeholder entities in town
Separation of Roles
Project Technical Assistance & Fiduciary Arm
WHPP Coalition
Coordinating, planning & facilitation of project process
Review new & existing data for establishment of town Substance abuse prevention priorities
SAPC
ICR
Responding to funder - Writing Project Reports
Receive & review reports from stakeholder projects and Coalition members’ activities
Suggest possible new directions for knowledge development of SAPC members
Updating Needs Assessment, Survey Analysis
Staff for coordination & evaluation

7. Needs Assessment - Youth
Student Survey, 2017 (n=2151)
Past Month Substance Use:
Across all students: 26% drank alcohol at least once, 19.9% used marijuana, 7.6% used prescription drugs non-medically (more than cigarette smokers)
Increased use with grade:
Alcohol – 12.3% of Freshman vs. 47.4% of Seniors
Rx Misuse – 5.3% Freshman vs. 10.2% Juniors, 9.5% Seniors
Females report drinking slightly more, males report Rx-misuse slightly more
“Other” Gender – Significantly higher past month substance use (Rx Misuse - 43%, Alcohol Use – 41%)

8. Needs Assessment - Youth
Key Risk Factors
74% say alcohol is easy to obtain, 40% say Rx drugs are easy to obtain (family & friends)
Risk perception – About 30% of students do not see high risks in alcohol use, 38% do not see high risks in Rx drug misuse
Poly-Substance Use
22% of students who drank in past month also misused Rx drugs
69% of students who misused prescriptions also smoked marijuana
Focus Groups on Rx Drug Misuse
Self-medicating behaviors, coping with academic demands & stress, generally solo use (less use at parties), mixing with alcohol/other drugs common, pills often accessed through family members and friends

9. Needs Assessment - Adults
Parent Survey, 2017 (n=158)
Most respondents (81%) see youth alcohol use as an important issue in town, but most lack awareness of Rx drug issue
93% of respondents who reported having medications in the home kept them in an unlocked location, 92% who had alcohol in the home kept it unlocked
31% were aware of the bi-annual drug “Take Back” Day
Only 13% reported disposing drugs at a “Take Back” day
No permanent Rx drug drop box exists in West Hartford

10. Planned PFS West Hartford Programs
Parents & Seniors –
Interactive Small Group Sessions to raise awareness about both prescription drug & alcohol access in the family context. PSA development.
Youth –
Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) & Leadership Program – Youth engaging with other youth to promote and expand alternative, substance-free spaces & events in town.
Prevention Messaging
Community –
Social Marketing Campaign to disseminate prevention messaging developed in the adult & youth projects to these populations town-wide.