Operation UNITE Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment

The purpose of this project will be to enhance and expand prevention efforts within Operation UNITE's (Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment & Education) 33-county service area utilizing a three-pronged approach that focuses on preventing substance misuse among youth, preventing relapse in recovery, and preventing death among individuals in active addiction. UNITE will utilize their established school-based drug prevention clubs and their community anti-drug coalitions to secure prevention measures among youth, as well as conduct rallies for 6th grade students to motivate youth into action by joining their existing UNITE Club or organizing a new club in schools without one. This project will allow expansion and updated versions of current school presentations that target prevention messages on trending topics that affect our youth. This project will also allow the continuation of an educational media campaign to reduce the incidence of youth ATOD. In efforts to assist in building recovery friendly communities, UNITE will conduct educational forums symposiums for community coalitions to further develop strengths within our service region that assist in reducing stigma and sharing prevention efforts in all capacities. UNITE will utilize their education department personnel to assist in research and help implement prevention strategies in both the school and community settings. UNITE will assist individuals with recovery housing assistance to bridge the gap from residential treatment into long term recovery care. UNITE will contract with external evaluators to assure identified goals and objectives are achieved. UNITE will contract and consult with media experts in the development of campaign messages with strategies involved in the launch of such message. UNITE will also consult with an events planner to assure coalition symposiums and youth rallies have the desired impact on their target audiences. UNITE requests $2,000,000 in Byrne Discretionary Grant funding to cover costs for these projects.