About CoAPT

What is CoAPT?

CoAPT is a group of people who have come together with a common goal to reduce youth substance abuse.

How We Got Started

The Blanco CoAPT got started in 2014 when community members were concerned about drug use on the football team and in the community. The superintendent at the school Dr. Ford did some research and found that unless we address the issue from all sides we will not be successful in reducing youth substance abuse/use. Dr. Ford worked to get different members of the community together that were passionate about this issue. CoAPT formed and started working on making some policy changes and prevention efforts. CoAPT first began working on the Livin’ Clean Campaign and implementing Drug testing at the high school. CoAPT continued to grow and bring more members in, because it was apparent that real change could not happen unless different parts of the community worked together in prevention efforts.  CoAPT is made up of 12 sectors from the community: youth, parents, law enforcement, religious organizations, businesses, civic and volunteer groups, media, schools, healthcare professionals, elected officials, state and local government, substance abuse organizations, and youth-serving agencies. The coalition is focusing on 4 substances/issues; underage drinking, marijuana use, methamphetamines, and misuse of prescription drugs.  We encourage anyone from the community who is concerned and feels passionate about our mission to join us. We want to continue to grow and help our youth stay healthy and drug free.

Our Mission and Vision

Our mission is to work as a community to prevent and reduce youth alcohol, tobacco, and substance use and promote community level change.

Our vision is to keep Blanco youth healthy and drug/alcohol free.

Our Goals

CoAPT goals for the coalition are to: Increase awareness on drug use in the community, increase community collaboration on prevention measures, decrease youth substance use/abuse through education, awareness, and support, work towards community level change, and promote a healthy and drug free community.

Funding for CoAPT

In October 2016, the Blanco CoAPT was awarded a grant through the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The grant is called the Drug Free Communities Support Program (www.cadca.org/drug-free-communities-dfc-program) After receiving the grant CADCA and SAMHSA provide training to help coalitions implement the Strategic Prevention Framework model (SPF).

Strategic Prevention Framework

The SPF is a model that focuses on assessment, capacity building, planning, implementation, evaluation, sustainability and cultural competence to provide a guide to making lasting changes in the community. The Strategic Prevention Framework was created by SAMHSA to provide a common language for all to use when discussing the problem solving process that coalitions engage in. The SPF provides effective prevention planning and development of coalition goals, objectives, strategies, activities, and tasks. Using the SPF framework is an effective way for coalitions to achieve changes in norms, policies, and behaviors which is necessary to achieve population-level change and make a real difference in substance use throughout the community.

This website was developed, in part, under grant number PO21510 from the Office of National Drug Control Policy and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services. The views, policies, and opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of ONDCP, SAMSHA, or HHS.

CoAPT

Blanco Coalition of Awareness, Prevention, and Treatment of Substance Abuse.

© 2017 Blanco CoAPT

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