12/11/13 - The first steps in a coordinated plan to fight substance abuse across the county were taken at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital last night. Representatives from local anti-drug organizations including the Livingston County Community Alliance, the Pinckney Coalition, the Hartland Coalition, and LACASA gathered for the first in a series of four meetings put on by the Livingston Community Prevention Project. The goal of the meetings is to put together a plan that would allow for the coordinated implementation of model programs across the county to fight the causes of substance abuse. Prevention Coordinator Karen Bergbower says those programs would be taken from a list of scientifically-verified methods provided by the federal administration that deals with substance abuse and mental health, and they would be implemented by the various organizations depending on their particular strengths. The four-part series is meant to bring together representatives from the organizations, get their feedback, and prepare a strategy for implementing programs. They would add to existing programs in the county, like the Big Red Barrel, It Stops With Students, LACASA's parenting prevention class, and school-based prevention efforts. The second meeting in the series, when the strategic plan will begin to take shape, will take place on February 27th at St. Mary's Church in Pinckney. (TD)
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