Center for College Health and Safety *
CCHS@edc.org
Denver, Colorado: Representatives from 39 states gathered in Denver this past weekend for the fourth annual Statewide Initiatives Leadership Institute, a four-day event sponsored by the Center for College Health and Safety and the U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention* to address how comprehensive regional efforts can curb college student underage and high-risk drinking.
Since 1996, the Higher Education Center* has worked to promote and sustain statewide and regional initiatives to support college alcohol and other drug prevention efforts. These initiatives feature the formation of campus and community coalitions that focus on changing the broader environment that encourages student substance use. The first statewide initiative was developed in Ohio, under the leadership of Ohio Parents for Drug Free Youth, and has been a remarkable success; the Higher Education Center now assists 42 statewide initiatives.
"The culture of a college campus is affected by its surrounding community," states William DeJong, director of the Higher Education Center. "The partnerships cultivated through statewide initiatives make change possible—uniting college presidents, campus health educators, state and local government officials. This coordinated approach is extremely effective in addressing the issue of underage and high-risk drinking on America’s campuses."
Meeting participants came from state government substance abuse offices and alcohol beverage control agencies, colleges and universities, and state coalitions working to reduce underage drinking. The Institute serves multiple functions: it is an opportunity for the Higher Education Center to increase the effectiveness of existing statewide college alcohol and other drug prevention initiatives and to encourage the creation of new initiatives in states that are ready to implement this promising approach.
Through an intense strategic planning process, participants assess the direction of their statewide and regional efforts and gain expertise in evaluating these efforts. Discussions also identify commonalities shared by initiatives, whether it is the struggles of early development, or implementing policy change on a statewide level. The Institute is also an opportunity for established initiatives to serve as mentors to newer efforts, sharing stories about motivating their state to action. Other highlights from the meeting included remarks from Beverly Watts Davis, Executive Director of San Antonio Fighting Back.
"It is inspiring to hear about the great work going on in other states. Statewide initiatives are critical to reducing high-risk drinking in our states and local communities," states Steve Schmidt, director of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s Bureau of Alcohol Education. "The Institute was a time to look back and appreciate our accomplishments and to prepare and plan for our future efforts."
The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention serves as the national resource center for institutions of higher education concerned with reducing alcohol and other drug use. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, with supplemental funding from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Center offers training, technical assistance, publications, and other information to assist those who want to take an active part in changing the environment in which students make decisions about alcohol and other drug use. The Higher Education Center is based at Education Development Center, Inc., an internationally known educational research and development organization located in Newton, Massachusetts.
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