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2001-2002
Annual Report
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CASA
2001-2002 Annual Report is availible in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
Annual Report approx. 581 KB
(If you don't have the free Acrobat Reader click here
to get it.) |
| Mission |
| Communities
Against Substance Abuse is a progressive organization that helps prevent
substance abuse through research, education, advocacy, and service. |
| Vision |
| Communities
Against Substance Abuse is the source for ideas, and plans for prevention
that work. Our community is a good, safe place to live, work, and
play, because it is drug-free. The communities as a whole are well
educated on the risks of substance abuse. Community norms, and values
have changed for the better, and substance abuse has been eliminated. |
| Goal |
| Our
goal is a drug free community and a drug-free society. |
| History |
| 1989 |
A small
group of concerned citizens becomes a 501 (c)(3) non-profit
organization called Communities Against Substance Abuse.
|
| 1991 |
Communities
Against Substance Abuse successfully advocates for an El Cajon
ordinance to restrict cigarette vending machines.
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| 1994 |
Successful
passage of restaurant smoking ban.
Zoning change for responsible alcohol service in downtown El
Cajon.
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| 1995 |
Communities
Against Substance Abuse creates a prevention plan for the City
of El Cajon, a first for San Diego County.
Neighbors to Neighbors is formed, giving a voice to local citizens
and earning the State of California Cities to Cities Award for
community collaboration. This leads to the creation of the Residential
Management Support System, a model for San Diego County.
East County Hospitality Resource Panel, the first coalition
of bars, restaurants, retailers and law enforcement, and prevention
representatives is established to address alcohol sales practices.
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| 1996 |
After-school
program Discovery Club starts for elementary and middle school
students.
|
| 1997 |
Designated
as Partnership for a Drug-Free San Diego the regional alliance
for the national organization Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
Helped eliminate tobacco self-service displays by advocating
ordinance.
|
| 1998 |
Appointed
media advocacy agency for the County of San Diego Methamphetamine
Strike Force.
|
| 2000 |
Launching
of website www.drugfreesandiego.org. The site receives more
than 35,000 visits per month.
Implemented the first countywide “Operation Safeguard,”
a law enforcement and community initiative to reduce underage
drinking, reduce the number of adults who provide alcohol to
minors, and enforce underage drinking laws.
|
| 2001 |
Produced
successful Safe and Drug-Free Workplace forums for area businesses,
resulting in the creation of workplace policies.
Partners with Drug Enforcement Administration and the San Diego
Prevention Coalition to present the first high level conference
on Club Drugs in the Western United States.
Best Prevention Program Award for media advocacy given to Communities
Against Substance
Abuse by the California Senate District 39.
In partnership with the County of San Diego Methamphetamine
Strike Force, helped form the California Drug Endangered Children
Alliance to advocate for the children of methamphetamine and
other drug abuse.
Participated in coordinated DUI billboard campaign with five
law enforcement agencies in the East County region, “Drunk
Drivers, Meet Your New Bartenders.”
The Communities Against Substance Abuse Foundation launched
to provide long term sustainability for the organization.
|
| 2002 |
Awarded
County of San Diego grant to reduce youth access to tobacco. |
|
| Programs |
Community
Development
Communities Against Substance Abuse increases community involvement
in substance abuse prevention and helps create safe, healthy
and drug-free communities throughout the East County region.
We work with an alliance of community partners to support programs,
initiatives and policies that promote drug-free lives, and prevent
alcohol and tobacco use by minors.
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County
of San Diego Methamphetamine Strike Force
Communities Against Substance Abuse leads the Media Action Team,
which works with the news media to spread the word about the
dangers of methamphetamine, generating public support for solutions,
and advance policy goals. We promote the use of the Meth Strike
Force Hotline 1-877-NO2-METH and website www.no2meth.org for
people to contact with anonymous tips for law enforcement and
to seek treatment referral and help.
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County
of San Diego Tobacco Education and Prevention Program
A partnership of Communities Against Substance Abuse, the California
Independent Grocers and Convenience Stores, the El Cajon Police
Department and youth from the El Cajon High School, the program
provides a concentrated and comprehensive community intervention
plan to reduce youth access to tobacco. It includes training
for youth and retailers, media advocacy, compliance enforcement,
community mobilization, and public awareness about the problem
of youth access to tobacco.
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County
of San Diego Underage Drinking Prevention Initiative
Communities Against Substance Abuse conducts media advocacy
and prevention campaigns to support the enforcement of underage
drinking laws, reduce youth access to alcohol, and reduce the
number of adults who provide alcohol to youth. We work to make
positive change in norms and standards surrounding the problem
of underage drinking.
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Discovery
Club
An after-school program that opens doors to a brighter and healthier
future for youth in El Cajon schools grades three through eight.
Through a collaborative effort under the direction of Communities
Against Substance Abuse, Discovery Club provides life skills
development, tutoring and homework assistance, team and individual
sports, arts and crafts, substance abuse prevention presentations,
and guest educational speakers.
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East
County Hospitality Resource Panel
The East County Hospitality Resource Panel (HRP) is dedicated
to fostering responsible principles and practices in the sale
and service of alcohol beverages through collaborative efforts
between the food and beverage industry, law enforcement, government
and prevention groups to promote a safe community. HRP sets
high standards for business conduct, supports law enforcement
of underage drinking laws, and provides advice to high risk
bars regarding how to improve community safety.
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Media
Advocacy
Communities Against Substance Abuse partners with community
members and youth to implement media advocacy strategies that
advance prevention initiatives and make policy and norm change.
Media advocacy is a tool to influence the public, opinion leaders
and policy makers about substance abuse prevention goals and
issues. A media advocacy strategy involves generating TV, radio
and print news coverage. It can incorporate donated and paid
messages as well.
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Partnership
for a Drug-Free San Diego
Officially designated by Partnership for Drug-Free America (PDFA)
in 1997 as Partnership for a Drug-Free San Diego, Communities
Against Substance Abuse works as the PDFA regional alliance
in San Diego County to facilitate substance abuse prevention
partnerships with the media, schools, business, government and
community-based organizations. Communities Against Substance
Abuse is responsible for twice-yearly distribution of drug prevention
messages to TV, radio and print organizations in the San Diego
market.
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Prevention
Education
Communities Against Substance Abuse increases the effectiveness
of the regional substance abuse prevention system. By providing
training and assistance to community partners, we work to create
responsible business practices, and improve community norms
and standards regarding substance abuse.
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Safe
and Drug-Free Workplace
More than two-thirds of substance abusers are employed and nearly
five percent of the six million workplace drug tests a year
report positive results. Employees who abuse substances cost
employers time and money. Companies depend on solid, hardworking
employees who are on time, alert, skilled and ready to work.
A Safe and Drug-Free Workplace Policy and Program can assist
you and your employees to make the most of the workday. Communities
Against Substance Abuse provides no-charge forums, private consultation
and resource materials to businesses in cooperation with local
chambers of commerce.
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Students
Together Against Alcohol ‘n Drugs (STAAND)
STAANDis made up of substance abuse prevention teams of youth
from East County high schools, dedicated to the prevention of
alcohol, tobacco, and drugs through community activism, media
advocacy, and journalism. Substance abuse is a community problem
and must be addressed with the whole community. We know that
for far too long youth have not been involved in this equation.
STAAND gives youth their place as community members who are
part of the solution and not part of the problem. This group
gives youth a voice and helps build communities that respect,
honor, and support youth. |
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