Decatur Prevention Initiative Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO SYSTEMATICALLY IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES. OUR VISION IS TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY AND HELP OUR YOUTH AND FAMILIES BE FREE OF THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE MISUSE. OUR GOAL IS TO BE A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY-LEVEL CHANGE AND TO PROMOTE POSITIVE SOCIAL NORMS. WE STRIVE TO ELIMINATE THE STIGMA OF ADDICTION AND MENTAL ILLNESS.

IN ITS SECOND YEAR OF A FIVE-YEAR CYCLE DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES GRANT CONTINUED ITS PROGRAMMING. THIS GRANT FOCUSES ON BUILDING A DRUG-FREE COMMUNITY COALITION WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF CRITICAL SECTORS WITHIN THE CITY OF DECATUR. THIS GRANT IMPLEMENTS THE SEVEN PREVENTION STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO BRING ABOUT COMMUNITY-LEVEL CHANGE IN THE AREAS OF UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE NICOTINE USE AND MARIJUANA USE FOR YOUTH AGES 9-18. DPI WAS RECOGNIZED FOR OUR DATA-DRIVEN EFFORTS WITH A "GOT OUTCOMES" DESIGNATION 1 OF 18 NATIONALLY. DPI HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED ITS COALITION MEMBERS OVER THE PAST YEAR. THE PARENT NETWORK HAS EXPANDED TO OVER 700 PLEDGE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHILE OFFERING SEVEN-SPEAKER EVENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC. THIS YEAR WAS ALSO OUR FIRST YEAR ESTABLISHING A MONTHLY PRESENCE IN THE LOCAL MAGAZINE WHICH REACHES EVERY HOME IN THE CITY. DPI HOSTED AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND STARTED A NEW PROGRAM REACHING 170+ HIGH SCHOOLERS.

DPI IS THE SUBRECIPIENT OF SAMHSA'S STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK PARTNERSHIP FOR SUCCESS GRANT AND 2021 COVERED PART OF OUR FIRST AND SECOND YEARS WITH THIS PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON YOUTH AND EMERGING ADULTS AGES 14 TO 24 AND ADDRESSES UNDERAGE AND BINGE DRINKING AND ILLICIT DRUG USE FOCUSING ON PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION MISUSE COCAINE AND OPIOIDS. ONE OF OUR MOST EXCITING ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THIS YEAR WAS TO ESTABLISH A WAY TO ENGAGE OUR TARGETED POPULATION DURING THE PANDEMIC THIS COMMUNITY REMAINED IN SHUT-DOWN STATUS FOR MOST OF 2021. DPI LAUNCHED A SERIES OF PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGNS BOTH VIDEO AND PRINT. THESE CAMPAIGNS ARE ON THE YOUTH-CENTRIC WEBSITE WWW.JUSTNOTWORTHITDPI.ORG. THE PFS TEAM LAUNCHED CAMPAIGNS IN LOCAL MASS TRANSIT STATIONS MOVIE THEATERS SCHOOLS COLLEGES AND COMMUNITY-GATHERING LOCATIONS SUCH AS PARKS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. GEO-TARGETING CAMPAIGNS FOR THE FIRST TIME YIELDED EXCELLENT ANALYTICS AND WERE A WAY TO ENSURE WE WERE REACHING OUR TARGET POPULATIONS. DPI ALSO HAS PARTNERED WITH THE LOCAL COLLEGE AND STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR DFC COALITION TO DELIVER SERVICES SENSITIVE TO THE COMMUNITY.

DPI HAS A YOUTH ACTION TEAM THAT RECEIVES FUNDS FOR THEIR PROJECTS BY BEING A STATE-SPONSORED YOUTH ACTION TEAM AND PARTICIPATING IN GEORGIA TEEN INSTITUTE.