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What is the North Central Alliance Partners in Prevention Community Coalition? The coalition grew out of a series of Youth Advocacy Forums that were hosted by City of Ruston Mayor Dan Hollingsworth, the United Way of Northeast Louisiana, and the Louisiana Methodist Children's Home Family Counseling Center. For the first time agencies and citizens came together to discuss community needs and how they could best be addressed. Poverty, underage drinking, substance abuse, education, teen pregnancy, and family strengthening quickly became hot topics in these meetings! Dr. Tommy Grafton with the Louisiana Tech University, Department of Health and Exercise Science, applied for a federal Drug Free Communities Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that helped to formalize the coalition, allowed staff to be hired, and coordinated coalition projects. Other coalition projects are funded by the Region 8 Office of Addictive Disorders, private donations and business sponsorships, and the Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office through a grant from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
| Who should join the coalition? Pastors, parents, grand-parents, teachers, law enforcement, human-service agencies, mental health agencies, teens, college students, civic groups, youth serving organizations, health care providers...anyone who is interested in the betterment of our community! While many of the coalition projects focus on underage drinking and drug use, you will find that many other issues including education, teen pregnancy, DUI, family strengthening, domestic violence, and poverty all bare some relationship to substance abuse. The coalition operates using risk and protective factors to promote prevention in our community. This means that the coalition's scope is always broadening! | How do I join the coalition? There is no cost to join! Simply fill out the membership form by clicking the link below, and return it to our office via e-mail or fax! |
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