The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has recently awarded a Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) grant to GGAPP.

The purpose of the STOP Act Grant is "to prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth in communities throughout the United States."

More specifically, it was awarded to coalitions and collaborating organizations to strengthen existing community prevention efforts and:

to enhance intergovernmental cooperation and coordination on the issue of alcohol use among youth;

to serve as a catalyst for increased citizen participation and greater collaboration among all sectors and organizations of a community that first demonstrates a long-term commitment to reducing alcohol use among youth; and,

to disseminate to communities timely information regarding state-of-the-art practices and initiatives that have proven to be effective in preventing and reducing alcohol use among youth.

GGAPP will be utilizing this funding to expand and strengthen the Four Cities Peer Court project as well as launch a variety of new parent and community activities and support centered around prevention. For more information see "STOP Act Grant Activities and News" below.

GGAPP is pleased to welcome Kim to the GGAPP Coalition Team. Kim will be working closely with GGAPP focusing her efforts on the Four Cities Peer Court and in engaging parents and new community stakeholders.

In her career Kim has focused on the areas of gang prevention, alcohol and drug counseling, and program development. She has ten years of experience developing, managing, and delivering services for adolescents and their families, with a special focus on Latinos. Kim's interests lie in prevention, positive youth development, and multiculturalism. She firmly believes that adolescents can be used as a positive resource for other adolescents who are at-risk.

Kim earned her MSW from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, and has a certification in chemical dependency counseling (CADCI). She also has a master's degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Kim was born in Lima, Peru. In her free time, she enjoys sharing with her family, exploring Oregon, hiking, and traveling.

GGAPP will be utilizing this funding to expand and strengthen the Four Cities Peer Court project as well as launch a variety of new parent and community activities and support centered around prevention.

What is the Four Cities Peer Court?

The Four Cities Peer Court Project is a community partnership for restorative justice that involves, supports, educates and holds youth, ages 12 to 18, accountable in their community. The primary focus of the project is to provide positive accountability and diversion for first time drug and alcohol offences while implementing a consistent and cohesive drug and alcohol education strategy in all high schools.

The Four Cities Peer Court engages parents, schools, community agencies and law enforcement systems with youth in a coordinated effort to prevent and reduce underage drinking through pro-active involvement in the Peer Court activities. Youth and community members serve as attorneys, bailiffs and as defendants. Offending youth are subject to clear consequences and accountability.

Parent Engagement Projects

Through the STOP Act Grant, GGAPP and coalition leaders will also be aided in facilitating evidenced based prevention efforts in each East County high school. These efforts will deepen parental engagement through programs that consistently promote an understanding of underage alcohol consumption in the context of human development and maturation that takes into account individual adolescent characteristics as well as environmental, ethnic, cultural, and gender differences.

GGAPP Coalition goals are to reduce alcohol and substance abuse among youth and, over time, among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of substance abuse and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance abuse. The Four Cities Peer Court project and additional parent programs are aligned with, and further, these goals.

Additional activities, pictures and project details will be added in the coming months. Check back regularly for updates!

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