Substance Free Initiative of NW Michigan Tina Allen Strategic Solutions

The primary intent of this project was to: “One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.” Bryant H. McGill   The primary intent of this project was to: Determine the local community interest in a 5-county regional substance abuse coalition/collaborative Identify key sectors required to make a collective impact Determine a working design for a 5-county regional substance abuse coalition/collaborative

Assessing Attitude When I say “Regional Substance Abuse Coalition” what first comes to mind? What do you see as the top 3-5 local issues or concerns in the area of controlled substance misuse and abuse?

Determining Sectors/ WHO When we talk about Collective Impact, what are some of the sectors and services that would need to be included in a Substance Abuse Coalition in order to attack the problem from all directions?

Membership WHAT How would you envision the membership of a regional Substance Abuse Coalition?  In other words: Who has the expertise to help inform and who needs to be part of the solution? Talk about how you see the value of this membership mix. Describe your idea of the role of a coalition member.

Value WHY Where and how would you see a Substance Abuse Coalition bringing value to and benefitting the work of you/your agency/your “group” in attacking regional SA issues? Where and how do you see yourself/your agency/your “group” bringing value to a regional coalition to attack regional SA issues?

Attitude Recheck Do you think that a well-structured regional SA Coalition/Collaborative/Task Force is key to making a significant positive local impact to those who most need our help?

Structure HOW Brainstorming Experience

Education Resources Convening Primary Intent #1: Determine the local community interest in a 5-county regional substance abuse coalition/collaborative Education Resources Convening

Education Opportunities to learn about substance related issues Opportunities to learn about how issues impact local communities Opportunities to learn different sector perspectives on issues Opportunities to provide own sector perspectives on issues

Resources Current prevention and treatment system map Gap analysis Project funding opportunities Information sharing/updates/calendars

Convening Hold annual or semi-annual topic based summits Support/strengthen local coalitions Hold meetings of individual sector groups with representation from all 5 counties

“Who isn’t impacted by substance abuse?” Primary Intent #2: Identify key sectors required to make a collective impact “Who isn’t impacted by substance abuse?” Education Medical: Primary care physicians, health clinics, hospitals, pharmacists Treatment providers Prevention providers Law enforcement, judiciary Impacted families, those in recovery, those with Substance Use Disorder Business/employers

Primary Intent #3: Determine a working design for a 5-county regional substance abuse coalition/collaborative

Common Agenda CORE Team identifies annual goals Coordinator attends all local coalition meetings and reports back to CORE Team Chairs of each local coalition Sector representatives Annual summits provide researched background and Best Practices informing identified annual goals  

Mutually Reinforcing Activities Local coalitions develop/implement activities supporting annual goals Sectors develop/implement activities supporting annual goals Support for strengthening of local coalitions

Continuous Communication Website/Quarterly email updates Local coalition minutes Sector meeting minutes Current prevention and treatment system map Project funding opportunities Information sharing/updates/calendars Education through annual or semi-annual summits Opportunities to learn about issues Opportunities to learn different issue perspectives Opportunities to share own perspectives Opportunities to learn about how issues impact locally Coordinator makes informal connections

Backbone Organization At the present time, the United Way of Northwest Michigan (through Coordinator)  Direct donations Grants The final Backbone Organization needs to be determined during the first year through the CORE Team process.

The CORE Team will: Create the Backbone infrastructure and processes Develop the common agenda through their involvement in local coalitions and sectors Help Coordinator strengthen existing coalitions Oversee the establishment of shared metrics

The Coordinator will: Oversee the creation of a resources/system map Participate in and work with local coalitions to strengthen their sector representation and collaborative opportunities Convene sector representatives for the establishment of shared metrics Coordinate the work of the CORE Team and the Sector groups

The Local Coalitions will: Reach out to engage additional sector representation Make their needs known to their CORE Team representatives to guide the development of the common agenda Work with Coordinator to develop the resources/system map

Sector representatives will: Develop shared measurements based on identified goals Make their needs known to their CORE Team representatives to guide the development of the common agenda Work with Coordinator to develop the resources/system map