RIVERHEAD COMMUNITY AWARENESS PROGRAM INC

DURING ITS 42ND YEAR (2023-2024), OUR PULASKI STREET PREVENTION/EDUCATION PROGRAM (TOO GOOD FOR DRUGS) DIRECTLY SERVED 745 FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS, A TOTAL OF 35 CLASSES EACH MONTH FOR EIGHT MONTHS. THE PRE-POST TEST RESULTS DEMONSTRATED STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT OUTCOMES.IN ADDITION, CAP SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDED WEEKLY PEER LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO OVER 92 HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO TEACH THE MONTHLY PULASKI STREET PREVENTION/EDUCATION PROGRAM, IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. CAP ALSO PROVIDED SUMMER WORKSHOPS FOR 31 ADDITIONAL INCOMING MIDDLE SCHOOL PEER LEADERS AND EXPANDING THE TOO GOOD FOR DRUGS 4TH GRADE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE ALL 4 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, WHICH CONSISTED OF 473 STUDENTS IN 22 CLASSES.THE PRE- POST TEST RESULTS FOR THIS PROGRAM ALSO DEMONSTRATED HIGHLY STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT OUTCOMES.

DURING THE FINAL YEAR (NO COST EXTENSION, YEAR 11) OF THE DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES GRANT PERIOD (2023-2024), THE RIVERHEAD COMMUNITY COALITION FOR SAFE AND DRUG-FREE YOUTH GENERATED 619 ACCOMPLISHMENTS/OUTPUTS DIRECTED TOWARD REDUCING UNDERAGE DRINKING, PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE, UNDERAGE VAPE USE (E-CIGARETTES) AND CANNABIS USE, AS WELL AS INCREASING COALITION CAPACITY. THESE INCLUDED 29 COMMUNITY ACTIONS DIRECTED TOWARDS CHANGING POLICIES, PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES; 38 COMMUNITY CHANGES THAT RESULTED FROM THE COMMUNITY ACTIONS; 149 SERVICES PROVIDED TO OVER 81,091 INDIVIDUALS; OVER 6 MILLION MEDIA IMPRESSIONS; AND 21 ORGANIZATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS. AREAS OF SUCCESS INCLUDED: INCREASING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE RIVERHEAD POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND RESOURCES TO VENDORS AT EVENTS WHERE ALCOHOL IS SERVED; INCREASING PARTNERSHIPS, PROGRAMMING, AND RESOURCES IN RIVERHEAD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO REDUCE STUDENT VAPING AND PARENT OUTREACH; PROVING SIGNAGE FOR LOCAL BEACHES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH SPECIFIC TO SUBSTANCE-FREE ZONES IN RIVERHEAD; CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF THE YOUTH COALITION AND SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF YOUTH COALITION DRIVEN ACTIVITIES; OUTREACH TO BUILD NEW RELATIONSHIPS TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY; CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF MARIJUANA ZONING AND SMOKE FREE ORDINANCES; STAFF MEMBERS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AVAILABLE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING; STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION ON PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE, CANNABIS AND UNDERAGE DRINKING;DEVELOPING NEW COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS TO INCREASE REACH IN THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING SPANISH LANGUAGE MEDIA OUTLETS AND TRANSLATIONS; TRAINING STAFF TO BECOME NARCAN TRAINERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS IN SBIRT IMPLEMENTATION; AND EXPANDING PRESCRIPTION DRUG SAFETY PRACTICES, DROP OFF AWARENESS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT RESULTED IN THE COLLECTION OF 1,043 POUNDS OF UNWANTEDAND UNUSED MEDICATIONS.