1 Underage Drinking (Including Binge Drinking) What Can We Do? The St. Helena Case Study Presentation to: CDE Statewide Coordinator’s Meeting Sacramento, California Presented by: Joel L. Phillips Community Prevention Institute (CPI) 771 Oak Ave. Parkway, Suite 2, Folsom, California September 21-22, 2005

2 Overview Getting Started Leadership Getting the facts Dimensions of the problem Resources Developing the plan Forming a team Planning for meetings Action plan (resources/timelines) Case study – St. Helena Other considerations

3 Why The Concern? Nine teens die every day from alcohol related incidents. (S.D. Youth council, 2004) Alcohol kills far more teens than all other drugs combined (S.D. Youth Council) Three leading causes of death for 15 to 24 year olds are automobile crashes, homicides and suicides—alcohol is the leading factor in all three (NIAAA 2003) It has been estimated that over three million teenagers are alcoholics. Several million more have a serious drinking problem they cannot manage on their own (NIAAA 2003)

4 Getting Started Planning Models Coordinator led Team (school based) Partnership (school/community) Who needs to (can) be involved?

5 Advantages/Disadvantages AdvantagesDisadvantages Coordinator led Control Buy-in Understand school environment More Work! Team (school based) Coordinator Teacher Students Spread work Understand school environment Youth participation Logistics, getting team together Competing Time Commitment Community Partnership Coordinator Teachers Students Community Spread work (delegate) Task completion more likely Ownership Spread Organizational logistics

6 Start-Up Issues Leadership Roles and Responsibilities Recruitment Depends on Planning Model Resources Assistance Funding Timeline – 1 year effort minimum

7 Getting the Facts 1 Dimensions of the Problem SOURCES Survey Data 1. National Data (Household survey, MTF) 2. CSS (State) 3. CHKS – District/school specific CHP 1. Drinking/driving – accidents 2. Drinking/driving – arrests DOJ 1. Adolescent arrests Compile information in easy to understand graphics – they are one of your marking tools. Profile your community. Present community data by demographics (age, gender, ethnicity) Compile information in easy to understand graphics – they are one of your marking tools.

8 Getting the Facts 1 Dimensions of the Problem SOURCES continued Profile your community Present community data by demographics (age, gender, ethnicity) Compile information in easy to understand graphics –- they are one of your marking tools.

9 Getting the Facts 2 Identifying Resources WHAT KINDS OF RESOURCES 1. People! What can they contribute? Who can help? Identify all individuals school/community 2. Map the Environment Current programs – list out all programs/resources that could be involved 3. Outside Support Technical assistance 4. Compile resource Inventory

10 Develop and Implement the Action Plan 1. Form a team Determine type of team Contact members 2. Collect and review ‘Facts’ Dimensions of the problem Potential resources 3. Conduct Planning meetings Introductory meeting Tasking meeting

11 Develop and Implement the Action Plan continued 4. Conduct additional data collection Example: Youth led focus groups Example: Social norm survey 5. Present Findings and Recommendations Organize Presentation 6. Implementation Identify work group areas (based on recommendations) Solicit additional volunteers Develop process to monitor progress

12 St. Helena Case Study Background Structure Youth Death (DUI) Concerned Parents Supervisor Involvement Called a planning meeting Meeting Structures (four types) took place over 10 months.

13 Meetings Structure 1: ‘Matchstick’ Group Membership 5-6 people (met 2x) Purpose Discussed various planning options

14 Meetings Structure 2: ‘Kindling’ Group Membership people (met 5x) Purpose Review/Discussed next steps/stage Set up Process for focus groups Data Collection Youth Led Focus Groups DATA Collection Process: Youth Led Focus Groups

15 Meetings Structure 3: ‘Bonfire’ Group Membership Community – 60 plus (met once) Purpose Review findings and recommendations Community members joined one of the 6 work groups

16 Meetings Structure 4: Work Groups Membership 4-6 per work group Purpose Implement recommendations

17 Youth Led Focus Groups Process Recruitment (≈ 14 youths) Training (2 Sessions) Questions Developed by planning group Youth Volunteers paid Role played the questions Focus Groups Five Youth-led Sessions Approximately 60 participants (all paid $10/$20) Report Prepared (CPI) Presentation to ‘Bonfire’ Community Meetings

18 Questions... Ten questions; in three sets SET 1: How Youth spent their time when not in school and percieved opportunities to be involved SET 2: Youth perceptions concerning adult support for them in their communities (ie, do you feel like adults in the community encourages value and value you as part of the community?) SET 3: Role of alcohol and/or drugs in their life

19 Findings Alcohol use is common 2. Social acceptance of alcohol use by peers 3. Availability and access 4. Reasons to use – differentiated by intent 5. At risk behaviors—lack of concern re: excessive drinking 6. Adult relationships with teen generally positive

20 Framework for Recommendations 1. Must address issues raised by teens 2. Must be based on approaches demonstrating prior success 3. Must be doable (low cost/minimum resources) 4. Must include community members 5. Must involve youths and adults

21 Recommendations School Based Risk Management Availability and Access Media Community Development Parent Education and Intervention

22 Risk Management Recommendations SADD Parent/Child Pledges Harm Reduction Information on Alcohol

23 Availability Recommendations Responsible Beverage Service Training Enforcement Compliance Checks Social Host Ordinance

24 Media Recommendations Media Advocacy Awareness Campaigns

25 Community Development and Youth Leadership Youth Advisory Task Force Friday Night Live Community Development Framework

26 Parent Education and Intervention Parent Skills Training Brief Intervention Training

27 Lessons Learned..... Payments important ($ minimal) Youth prepared ‘notes’ were problematic Planning/scheduling is critical Recruitment Diversity (age, student types) Conclusion: Youth led Focus Groups can be an important way to gather information and involve youth

28 Status 5 of 6 Work Groups meet every month (5-10 members) Special Projects (recommendations) are being pursued Youth media campaign Brief Intervention RBS Place of last drink survey Parents involvement—Family Resource Center Implementation SADD Interest in a SAP

29 Next Steps.... CPI will work with up to FIVE School Districts in developing / Supporting an Underage Drinking Planning Process