Drug Free Communities Support Program

The Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse, Inc. serves Sarasota County, Florida, a 572-square mile mixed urban and rural area. Sarasota County has a population of approximately 326,000, with a growing Hispanic community. Through the promotion of collaboration, evidence-based practices and accountability methods, the coalition continues to facilitate and to foster the emergence of systemic changes in the prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse by local organizations. The theme of the coalition's work in the 2004-2005 project year is the promotion of substance abuse free environments throughout the community, with a focus on schools, the workplace and the judicial system.

The coalition's goals, which have been modified to meet the needs of the community, are to reduce substance abuse among youth, to promote adult prevention education, and to strengthen the coalition. The coalition will employ the following strategies to achieve these goals:
1) facilitate the introduction of prevention curricula in Sarasota County public and private schools;
2) promote drug-free school policies and procedures;
3) support the development of a community-wide mentoring program;
4) promote and assist the expansion of evidence-based parenting programs;
5) promote the adoption of a public health model in correctional institutions;
6) increase participation in the drug-free workplace program;
7) promote the coalition and its core functions and collaborative efforts through a marketing campaign; and
8) provide technical assistance to local funders, community advocacy groups, and service providers.

CA/NCF