Portland Now, Inc.

Portland Now Prevention Partnership

About the Prevention Partnership

This group is no longer operating. They have formed another group called the Portland Now Resource Partnership that covers a lot of the same subjects. They meet the third Thursday of the month at Neighborhood House, 201 N. 25th Street (25th and Rowan St.) at Noon. For more information please contact Jennifer Owens at jowens@nhky.org. Lunch is provided, but request a confirmation of your attendance so they can order enough food.

Portland Now Prevention Partnership (PNPP)
“Working together to prevent substance abuse among youth and adults in Portland”
An Introduction

WHO WE ARE: Portland Now Prevention Partnership (PNPP) is a coalition of Portland residents and service providers who are working to reduce substance abuse among youth and adults in Portland.

HOW WE WERE FORMED: In 2003, Portland Now, Inc. (PNI) the Portland neighborhood association, applied for and received a federal Drug-Free Communities Support Program grant for $100,000 to work on substance abuse prevention in Portland. As a result, the Portland Now Prevention Partnership was formed as a subgroup of Portland Now Inc., to work on preventing substance abuse.

WHAT DOES PNPP DO TO REDUCE SUBSTANCE ABUSE? Research shows that when a community joins together to work together on the problem of substance abuse, substance abuse rates decline. The working model for this type of action is a community coalition of residents, businesses, schools, law enforcement, youth organizations, and others. The PNPP coalition also works to increase prevention efforts in the neighborhood, and promotes the use of effective, proven substance abuse prevention programs.

OUR MAIN PROJECTS

Coalition development: Continued growth of the PNPP coalition will increase our ability to lower substance abuse rates in Portland and will help us bring together the resources we need for effective programs. The coalition gives us a forum for concentrating on substance abuse issues in Portland.

Youth Development: Providing youth leadership development programs will help create an environment in Portland that supports youth abstinence from substance use.

Social Norms Campaign: Social Norms is a fancy way of saying we’re working to counter the idea that “everyone is using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs”. Since we know that young people are influenced by what they THINK their peers are doing- we want to be sure to get the good news in front of them…. most Portland youth DON’T use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, according to surveys. Our campaign to get the good news out there includes billboards, bookmarks, t-shirts, stickers, yard signs and other ways of promoting the truth about youth substance use in Portland.

Effective substance abuse prevention programs: We’re putting an emphasis on providing effective programs to youth and families, from workshops on communicating with your teens to school programs to increase youth attachment to the neighborhood to programs to help parents refuse to host teen drinking parties.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE OR GET INVOLVED? PNPP meets every third Thursday of the month at Neighborhood House. The meeting is at 12 noon, and lunch is served, no charge. Membership in PNPP is free. No special knowledge is needed to be a part of the group. Anyone interested in substance abuse issues is encouraged to attend a meeting.

The project Director is Jackie McComb. Jackie can be reached at pnpp@insightbb.com or 774-2322. Neighborhood House serves as the “host” agency for the project, and the PNPP office is located at Neighborhood House, 201 N. 25th St., Louisville, KY 40212.

Information

PORTLAND NOW PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP (PNPP)


Do you really know?
Most Portland youth DON’T use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs

The focus of the Portland Now Prevention Partnership is to reduce substance abuse among youth and adults, with a focus on reducing tobacco, alcohol and marijuana use - the most commonly abused substances. Here’s a look back at 2006.

Effective substance abuse prevention programs:

Do prevention programs REALLY change behavior and attitudes?
By choosing programs that are PROVEN to work, we can influence children, youth and adults to make healthy decisions.

Healthy Journey for Two- Pregnant moms from the Portland Neighborhood got training on how to have a healthy pregnancy at these educational baby showers. Topics of discussion included alcohol, tobacco and other drug use as well as other tips for good health. Moms were given the opportunity to request additional services on their exit survey, and those mothers received follow up evaluation and treatment services if needed.

Staying Connected with Your Teen (formerly Parents Who Care)
Parents in Portland got a chance to talk about difficulties with teens and learn new ways to stay connected through communication, setting family policy, identifying and discussing risks, and maintaining a strong parent/child bond. Increasing bonding among teens and parents reduces risky behavior.

Collaborative After School Program (CLASP)
CLASP is a youth prevention/early intervention program designed to reduce delinquency and negative behavior in the after-school hours. The program targets middle school students who may be truant, aggressive, or declining in attendance, grades, attitude, etc. This program provides programming designed to meet the needs of at-risk youth, including youth with mental health issues. Portland area youth were involved in the CLASP program at Western Middle School and Neighborhood House.

Youth Citizens Police Academy
Portland youth participated in a two week long program designed to build relationships with local law enforcement officers and increase awareness of crime prevention and legal issues, including substance abuse-related crimes. The interactive program allows youth to participate in “survivor” style challenges designed to develop teamwork. Youth were also certified in CPR and first aid. Programs like Youth Citizens Police Academy increase bonding to the neighborhood and improve youth’s “life skills” and abilities to cope with everyday challenges.

Portland THUNDER and CLUB PRIDE
Portland Thunder is a youth leadership development program with a focus on substance abuse prevention. In late 2006 this group narrowed its focus by associating with the national PRIDE organization- a renowned youth substance abuse prevention program that provides a structure and curriculum for involving youth in substance abuse prevention. Now called CLUB PRIDE, the group is reforming and has big plans for 2007. A team of national trainers will come to Portland in early 2007 to kick-start the group’s development, and teen members will travel with adult sponsors to the PRIDE national conference in April.

Youth Art Show
Portland youth participated in an art contest to promote drug-free messages. An opening reception was held at the Portland Museum where first and second places winners and “honorable mentions” were displayed. Providing activities for youth, especially during the dangerous after-school hours (research shows this is a prime time for risky behavior) fosters healthy development and reduces risk factors.

Kick Butts Day
Portland youth participated in planning events to highlight the dangers of tobacco and encourage the community to “KICK BUTTS”.

Social Host Ordinance
Portland youth participated in legislative activities geared to holding adults more responsible for underage drinking on private property.

And other events and activities…..

Survey SAYS…?!? (PNPP’s Social Norms Project) Sometimes people think substance abuse is MORE widespread than it really is. This is a special problem for children and youth, who are influenced by what they “think” their friends are up to. PNPP is getting the TRUTH out- so people will REALLY know….
most Portland youth DON’T use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs Check out the billboards, pizza box stickers, tray liners, book marks, and other materials in the neighborhood. Soon to be in bloom- YARD SIGNS….

Underage Drinking Town Hall Meeting
Portland was one of hundreds of communities throughout the U.S. that held a “Town Hall” meeting to discuss issues related to underage drinking and ways to prevent it. Parents heard that despite what they may think, research shows that teens do listen to their parent’s opinions, and parental disapproval of underage alcohol use is one key to prevention.

Youth Substance Use Survey
Without clear data on what substances youth tend to use and at what age experimentation begins, it is difficult to target prevention programs where they are most needed. This year the Partnership began surveying Portland youth to see just what the story REALLY is. Survey data will help the community evaluate our efforts and give guidance for planning future prevention efforts.

Partnership Member Growth
The Portland Now Prevention Partnership gives us a forum for concentrating on substance abuse issues in Portland. Grassroots coalitions such as ours are an important way to bring renewed focus to these problems. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE INVOLVED in making Portland better and safer.

Partnership meeting attendance has grown with new outreach efforts, including visits to local businesses, schools, the library and other youth service organizations. We are working to engage old and new partners and spark renewed interest in substance abuse prevention in Portland.

2006 Meeting Attendance
January meeting -13 July meeting- 17
February meeting- 15 August meeting – 22
March meeting -31 September meeting- 22
April meeting- 15 October meeting – 34
May meeting -18 November meeting - 27
June meeting – 21 December meeting- 43

Management Team
Special thanks are due to the community residents and service providers who serve on the Partnership’s Management Team. The Team meets monthly to make sure the federal grant paperwork is done and programs are on track.
Jackie Engle…Jim Hook…..Leo Dontchos…..Pam Rice…..Ellie Schweizer
and all Partnership members….

THANK YOU for your service to Portland.

Respectfully Submitted,


Jackie McComb, Director

Pledge

PORTLAND NOW PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP (PNPP)
“Working together to reduce substance abuse in Portland”


TAKE THE PLEDGE
For Portland

I pledge to support the substance abuse prevention efforts of PNPP and other community organizations as a way to improve the health and happiness of youth and adults in Portland.

As a part of this pledge, I agree not to host underage drinking parties at my home and to talk to my kids (if applicable) about my disapproval of underage drinking, smoking and substance use.

Signature_____________________Date_________________

_____________I’d like to get information in the mail about PNPP and its projects.

_____________I might be interested in coming to a PNPP meeting if my schedule permits.

_____________YES- Put a yard sign in my yard on Jan 25th.

(We will be posting yard signs to spread the truth about Portland – 78% of Portland youth have never tried alcohol!!!)

My address is_______________________________________ Zip_______________

THANK YOU!!!!!

Email us pnpp@insightbb.com

More information

We Are Portland Proud