Health Department to
hold meetings on
drug programs

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Star-Bulletin staff

The state Department of Health will begin holding community meetings this week to enlist residents in a federally funded effort to fight substance abuse among youth.

About 18 Community Prevention Partnerships will be funded by the Governor's State Incentive Grant Program to help prevent alcohol and drug use among young people.

"It is the community, families and individuals that will make the real difference in our efforts to reduce alcohol and drug use among our youth in Hawaii," said Health Director Bruce Anderson.

Community partnerships, composed of social service agencies, schools, religious and civic organizations, may receive up to $150,000 per year for three years to carry out substance abuse prevention programs.

The state entered a three-year cooperative agreement with the federal government last September to operate the program.

Goals are to reduce alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drug use among 12- to 17-year-olds and to coordinate, leverage and redirect state substance abuse use prevention resources to better serve communities, families, schools and work places.

One of 27 states selected to implement drug programs, Hawaii will receive $8.4 million over three years, from October last year through September 2003.

Communities, in developing proposals for funding, are asked to form local Community Prevention Partnerships to assess local needs and resources and gaps.

The partnerships will design a range of prevention strategies targeting youths, parents, schools and communities.

The public will learn how to apply for grants and organize partnerships at the community meetings, conducted by staff of the Health Department and University of Hawaii Center on the Family.

Local substance abuse prevention needs and best practices for action in communities will be discussed.

Meetings are scheduled as follows:

Oahu

>> Wednesday, 5 to 7 p.m., Kapolei High School, 91-5007 Kapolei Parkway.

>> June 25, 5 to 7 p.m., Kapiolani Community College, Ohia 118, 4303 Diamond Head Road.

>> June 26, 5 to 7 p.m. J.B. Castle High School Cafeteria, 45-386 Kaneohe Bay Drive, Kaneohe.

>> July 11, 5 to 7 p.m., Leeward Health Center, First Floor Conference room, 860 Fourth St., Pearl City.

Maui County

>> Tuesday, 5 to 7 p.m., UH Cooperative Extension Service, Building 205, Maui Community College, 310 Kaahumanu Blvd., Kahului.

>> June 21, 4 to 6 p.m., Mitchell Pauole Center, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai.

>> July 5, Lanai Public Library, meeting room, Fraser Avenue, Lanai City.

Hawaii County

>> June 27, 5 to 7 p.m., Kealakehe High School, 74-5000 Puohulihuli St., Kailua-Kona.

>> June 28, 5 to 7 p.m., Komohana Agricultural Complex, Conference Room A, 875 Komohana St., Hilo.

Kauai

>> July 10, 5 to 7 p.m., State Office Building, UH Cooperative Extension Service, 3060 Eiwa St., Lihue.