HANDS ACROSS CULTURES INC

INCREASED COMMUNITY COLLABORATION BY UTILIZING EVIDENCE-BASED, SEVEN STRATEGIES OF COMMUNITY LEVEL CHANGE INCLUDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ENHANCE SKILLS STRATEGY. WE COLLABORATED TO HOLD AND ATTEND WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, OR ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE SKILLS OF PARTICIPANTS, MEMBERS AND STAFF: COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, GOVERNMENT, AND OTHER AGENCIES.HANDS ACCROSS CULTURES ASSISTED IN ACCOMPLISHING REDUCING YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE THROUGH IDENTIFYING SEVERAL MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES AL DERIVED FROM DATA IDENTIFIED IN OUR ANNUAL COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT. WE FACILITATED LOCAL COALITIONS TO PRIORITIZE PRESSING DATA AND IDENTIFY PROBLEM AREAS IN TERMS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE. BASED ON A CRITERIA, WE IDENTIFIED OBJECTIVES THAT WE FELT WERE DOABLE AND MANAGEABLE GIVEN THE RESOURCES AND MANPOWER AVAILABLE.WE IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES TO IMPLEMENT AND PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES. CHANGE CONSEQUENCES, REDUCE ACCESS, MODIFY/CHANGE POLICY, PROVIDE INFORMATION AND PROVIDE SUPPORT. WE CONSTRUCTED MEDIA MESSAGES TO INCREASE PERCEPTION OF HARM AND PERCEPTION OF RISK WITH REGARDS TO YOUTH ALCOHOL USE AND DWI, AS WELL AS, THE ABUSE OF PRESCRIPTION PILLS. HANDS ACCROSS CULTURES ALSO COLLABORATED WITH SEVERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT PRESCRIPTION PILL TAKE BACK DAYS AND SAFETY RESOURCES. WE ALSO ASSISTED IN STRENGTHENING SCHOOL POLICY WITH REGARDS TO ENFORCEMENT OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUGS.HANDS ACROSS CULTURES AND COALITION PARTNERS PUBLICIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS AND CONSEQUENCES FOR BREAKING ALCOHOL AND DRUG LAWS. WE ALSO PUBLICIZED THE DANGERS OF ABUSING PRESCRIPTION PILLS AND OPIOIDS.WE ALSO ENGAGED YOUTH AND COMMUNITY ALIKE IN CULTURAL ART AND VIDEO PROJECTS WHERE WE HIGHLIGHTED POSITIVE ELEMENTS. WE EMPHASIZED ASPECTS OF THE VARIOUS CULTURES ENCOMPASSED IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO TO ILLUMINATE SOCIAL ISSUES CONCERNING THE COMMUNITY. WE WORKED IN NORTHERN SANTA FE COUNTY AND SOUTHERN RIO ARRIBA COUNTY IN COLLABORATION WITH PROJECT RACE, ESPANOLA YMCA, RIO ARRIBA JOINT TASK FORCE AND DWI PLANNING COUNCIL, SANTA FE PREVENTION ALLIANCE, TEEN COURT, NATIONAL LATINO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION, CONNECTING OUR VOICES WORKGROUP AND YOUTH COUNCIL, THE RIO ARRIBA COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL, 100% RIO ARRIBA (100% NEW MEXICO INITIATIVE), THE LANL FOUNDATION AND THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION. WE AIMED TO INCREASE PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR YOUTH THROUGH POSITIVE, PRO SOCIAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES STRENGTHENING BONDS WITH FAMILY, MENTORS, COMMUNITY AND CULTURE. WE IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION STRATEGIES, ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS. WE ALSO ADAPT TO THE CULTURAL SENSITIVITY THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.HANDS ACROSS CULTURES ALSO PRODUCED IMPORTANT COMMUNITY DOCUMENTARIES AND NARRATIVE FILMS AND CAMPAIGNS HIGHLIGHTING PATHS TO PREVENTION, TRETMENT AND RECOVERY INCLUDING: "THE WAY WE CARRY WATER AND RIO ARRIBA RISING", A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN INITIATIVE HIGHLIGHTING THE VOICES, RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY EFFORTS OF RIO ARRIBA COUNTY.