The Concerned Citizens Coalition on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse for Greater Kenosha was awarded an $87,694 Strategic Planning Framework State Incentive Grant by the State of Wisconsin Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Steve Fredriksson is the Process Director and Margie Gentner is the Office Manager for the program.

This first phase of the grant will allow the Coalition to address the problem of underage drinking in Kenosha County. The competitive grant process was entered into by the Concerned Citizens Coalition, formed in 1988.

Twelve sectors of the community, represented by the Coalition board, including education, law enforcement, small business, health, faith-based organizations, county government, media and non-profits, have committed to planning for the needs of the approximately 21,000 residents at risk of underage drinking in Kenosha County.

Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drugs, Inc., another non-profit organization in Kenosha County whose mission is  to reduce the impact of alcohol and other drug abuse in our community by providing education, prevention, intervention and referral services, will serve as the fiscal agent and will oversee day-to-day operations for the Coalition during this grant process. “We are so excited to be working with so many groups, making a difference in the arena of underage drinking,” says Guida Brown, Executive Director of the Hope Council.

The Concerned Citizens Coalition (CCC) was established in 1988 with a grant from Rotary West to provide a county-wide alliance to address alcohol and other drug (AOD) prevention awareness, establish AOD prevention education programs, and initiate functions that would reduce substance abuse among youth and adults. The group developed a Board of Directors, bylaws, incorporated and became a 501(c)3 in 1991. The Coalition’s mission is to eliminate substance abuse in Kenosha County by coordinating education programs, events, and resources so that families engage in healthy lifestyles.

In 1992, the Coalition established the Teen Task Force, a group of youth ages 13 – 18, to help reduce alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among teens. The mission of the Teen Task Force is to:

1) provide a safe and healthy environment as an alternative to teen alcohol and other drug use/abuse;

2) increase ATOD prevention education to youth and offer experiences where youth become peer leaders in the field of prevention;
 
3) serve the community in which they live;
 
4) train youth to lead ATOD prevention programs with children;
 
5) instill cooperative skills and social competencies; and
 
6) offer peer-to-peer assistance and mentoring opportunities to enhance positive youth development.

The Teen Task Force still plays an integral role in the Haunted House at the Kemper Center each year, continuing to provide safe and healthy alternatives to alcohol and other drug abuse as well as serving their community and instilling cooperative skills and social competencies.

Now in its twenty-first year, the Coalition still remains a vital leader in AOD Prevention efforts throughout Kenosha County and is a member of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America. The Coalition continues to strengthen its partnerships with law enforcement, education, and organizations that directly serve Kenosha County families. Currently, the Coalition supports the celebration of the Kenosha County ATOD Awareness Week and the Student Recognition Brunch that provides special acknowledgements to students who win the Kenosha County ATOD Prevention Contests. The support for the Teen Task Force, Red Ribbon Campaign, ATOD Awareness Week, Drug-Free School Zone signs, “Our Children, Parties and The Law” brochure and panel discussion programs, Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets, “Youth and Family Activity Guide,” and program prevention support continues. The new partnership with the Hope Council under Wisconsin’s Strategic Planning Framework State Incentive Grant is an exciting endeavor.

For more information about the Strategic Planning Framework State Incentive Grant, Steve may be reached at (262) 652-3358 or at steve@hopecouncil.org. For more information about the Concerned Citizens Coalition on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse for Greater Kenosha visit www.cccofkenosha.org.