Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills addresses underage drinking

by DJ Peterson
Project Director
Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills

The Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills is seeking to coordinate services with local, county, state and federal agencies and others to prevent and reduce underage drinking. The nonprofit organization, Community Vision, Inc., recently applied for a federal grant to prevent and reduce underage drinking by addressing factors in the community that serve to increase youth risk behaviors, and increasing protective factors that minimize risk behavior, such as youth development, resiliency and asset-building strategies.

To achieve their goals, the coalition will mobilize the community to provide effective and coordinated strategies and evidence-based prevention services and activities for youth ages 11-18. They plan to implement the following strategies that were recommended by the community at a Town Hall Meeting on Underage Drinking held April 3:

» Reduce youth access to alcohol at retail outlets by “decoy/sting” and “shoulder tap” operations in coordination with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

» Increase intervention services with increased fines or other consequences through a teen court program.

» Increase youth development supports and opportunities, such as increasing safe places for youth, positive youth activities, youth leadership, mentoring and community involvement.

» Increase perception of disapproval of underage drinking by adults and peers, and reduce drinking and driving by supporting alcohol-free grad nights, increased Friday Night Live and Club Live Activities and “Every 15 Minutes” program at schools.

» Increase counseling services, such as alcohol and drug counseling and school-based mental health counseling.

» Increase parent education workshops and materials, especially regarding hosting and supervising parties.

In order to implement these strategies, the coalition will continue working closely with key partners and members of the coalition, such as the El Dorado Hills Community Services District, the El Dorado County Public Health Department, local schools and school districts, law enforcement, youth groups, business leaders, faith organizations and other sectors of the community.

For more information about the Vision Coalition, contact DJ Peterson, Project Director, at (916) 933-1771 or visit www.edhvisioncoalition.org.

The Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills is a REACH Community Action coalition.