NORTHEAST VALLEY COALITION AGAINST METHAMPHETAMINE
COALITION OVERVIEW A local effort to coordinate a community-based response to the methamphetamine problem Meth is highly addictive for users, destructive for families and increases crime in communities Our mission is to empower and engage the community to become meth-free through education, awareness and by providing access to resources We are funded by the Arizona Governors Office and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. We are led by a 12-member steering committee and four subcommittees
MEMBER COMMUNITIES A mix of seven separate jurisdictions consisting of urban, suburban, and rural populations over a 300+ sq. mile area Town of Carefree Town of Cave Creek Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Town of Fountain Hills Town of Paradise Valley Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community City of Scottsdale
KEY STEPS Formed by Scottsdale City Council, Nov Organized Coalition, March-May, 2006 Conducted Needs Assessment process, June-Dec Recognized by White House, Nov Held strategic planning meetings, Feb Implemented strategic plan, May 2007-present Recognized by Arizona Governors Office, Sept. 2007
COALITION HIGHLIGHTS Hosted 16 community workshops on impacts of methamphetamine use averaging over 40 participants Held four identity theft document shredding events with over 150 participants each Created Identity Theft 10 Tips flyer Distributed 1,500 Stop Meth Use gel ink pens to help reduce check fraud
COALITION HIGHLIGHTS Created and distributed over 45,000 meth-specific resource directories Held two youth summits with 750+ and a parent town hall with 120 participants Sponsored U B the Rent video contest for youth With Cox Cable 7, sponsored an anti-meth television program
COMING ATTRACTIONS Additional shredding events in Coalition communities Support student led event at Horizon H.S. March 2009 Community workshops 8 times per year Train 15 members to do 10 Meth360 presentations Spanish-language event in October 2008 Study impacts of other substance abuse issues Produce DVD – what parents need to know about drugs
LESSONS LEARNED Get the right people at the table Select a point person to keep things moving Agree to and follow a process Choose strategies that make it easier to do the right thing or harder to do the wrong thing. Partner carefully with others Communicate and celebrate successes For more information go to: