The Impact of Regional Coalitions on Addressing Underage Drinking in Rural Communities OJJDP’s 12 th National EUDL Lead

2. The Impact of Regional Coalitions on Addressing Underage Drinking in Rural CommunitiesOJJDP’s 12th National EUDL Leadership ConferenceAugust 18, 2010

3. Together We Can Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant(SPF/SIG)

4. What does it mean? Youth Service Bureau (YSB) Local Prevention Council (LPC) Juvenile Review Board (JRB) Resident State Trooper

5. Together We Can was funded by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to prevent and reduce underage drinking in our six towns.

6. This has been a groundbreaking effort to address the priority issue for our area; alcohol use among minors and young adults. The collaboration includes: Youth and Family Services of Haddam-Killingworth, Inc. East Haddam Youth and Family Services, Inc. Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau, Inc.

7. All three agencies shared the same priority problem and identified the population at large in all 6 towns as the target population.  The target population included 39,467 people within 173 square miles in a contiguous geographic area.  All 6 towns are rural towns and share similar demographics.  All six towns are served by the Connecticut State Police and are assigned Resident Troopers.

8. Snapshots of Our Communities

12. The three Youth Service Bureaus have collaborated to address the high rate of alcohol use among minors and young adults and the primary consequences of this problem. • 30 day use • Age of first use

13. Why be concerned about underage drinking?

14. Underage drinking isn’t just about drinking and driving… Suicide Sexual assaults Delinquency Poor grades Alcohol poisoning Pregnancy Homicide Addiction Injuries Other drug use

15. Environmental Strategies

16. Limiting social access • Increasing enforcement of underage drinking laws • Media campaign

17. Expected Outcomes • Decrease 30-day use by 10% • Increase the age of first use by 2 years

18. Local underage drinking statistics (averaged and compiled from *survey results and focus groups) 2006 2009 32% of youth in grades 7-12 reported using alcohol in the past 30 days (decrease in number of youth reporting by 18%) 19% of youth in grades 7-12 got drunk in the last two weeks (decrease in the number of youth reporting by 24%) *Search Institute: Profiles of Student Life Attitudes and behaviors/aggregated 2009 • 39% of youth in grades 7-12 reported using alcohol in the past 30 days • 25% of youth in grades 7-12 got drunk in the last two weeks *Search Institute: Profiles of Student Life Attitudes and Behaviors/aggregated 2006

19. Collaboration with Connecticut State Police and Increased Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws

20. Public Act 06-112 and Underage Drinking:Social Host & Minors in PossessionOn October 1, 2006 a new law hit the books to toughen up CT’s stance on Underage Drinking. This lawsimply makes it illegal for minors to possess alcohol ANYWHERE, whether it’s on public or private property.It also makes it clear that adults cannot continue to allow this behavior to take place and empowers them tohalt such activity if they see it happening on their own property.

21. What are the penalties? First offense for social hosting: An infraction resulting in a fine of $146 Subsequent offenses for social hosting: A misdemeanor (a fine of no more than $500, or no more than 1 year in prison, or both) First offense for minor possessing alcohol ANYWHERE: An infraction resulting in a fine of $136 Subsequent offenses for minor possessing alcohol ANYWHERE: A fine of up to $500

22. Preparation for Collaboration • A workshop was held with key stakeholders in each community including law enforcement to educate about the grant and plan of action to address the priority problem. • Youth Service Bureau Directors met with the Commanding Officers of Troops F & K. • Youth Service Bureau Directors together with Resident Troopers attended three National Leadership Conferences sponsored by the Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center.

23. Controlled Party Dispersal • The following people have been involved: • Youth Service Bureau Directors • Resident Troopers • School Resource Officers • Resident Trooper Sergeants

24. Party Patrols/Controlled Party Dispersal • Developed Operational Plan with duties and responsibilities. • Patrols include minimum of 3 Troopers, 1 Sgt and 1 Youth Service Bureau Director (if available). • Shifts usually 6 hours with flexible times. • Schedule 3 shifts a month rotating between 6 towns. • Deploy shifts around key community events (proms, graduations, holidays, musters, fairs). • Infractions issued to minors over 16 < 21. • Minors under 16 issued Juvenile Summons or referred to Juvenile Review Board (JRB).

25. Tip Lines Tip lines currently set up in East Haddam, Haddam & Killingworth, Chester, Essex & Deep River. When tip received via tip line Resident Trooper contacted via cell phone message waiting. When tip is received, confirmation is attempted, and resources are contacted to meet up. All useful information about location & number of people present is gathered for officer safety reasons.

27. Case Example East Haddam, CT January 2009 Tip received via E. Haddam tip line about underage drinking party. Tip confirmed through sources close to E. Haddam Resident Trooper. 4 Troopers & 3 Youth Service Bureau Directors met at E. Haddam Resident Troopers office for briefing. Trooper did a drive by of residence to determine magnitude of party and layout of residence Troopers arrived at residence and determined that there was no homeowner present. After the situation was assessed by troopers, Youth Service Bureau Directors were asked to enter the home. It was determined alcohol and drugs were present with minors in possession and no parents were home. 13 Infractions were issued for Possession of Alcohol by a Minor, homeowner notified, parents of other minors called, followed up by letter from trooper about incident.

28. Case Example Killingworth, CT 2009 • Received tip from a PTO parent about after prom party @ residence. • Trooper conducted drive by of residence to determine magnitude of party & property layout. • 4 Troopers and 1 Youth Service Bureau Director met and discussed plan of action. • Upon arrival loud music heard and several cars observed parked in the roadway. • Party was located outside the house with approx 30 people playing various drinking games. • Made contact with owner of property (son & later mother). • It was determined there were people of age and minors present in possession of alcohol. • Minors were identified, separated & detained in separate area. • 7 Infractions issued for Poss. Alcohol by a Minor (30-89(b)(2) and 1 Infraction issued to Mother (30-89a(a)(1) who admitted she knew they were drinking on her property.

29. Case Example Chester, CT May 2009 • Prom Night • No tip 4 Troopers & 1 Youth Service Bureau Director patrolling three towns on Party Patrol. • Trooper observed many vehicles parked in roadway in front of residence. • Requested other Troopers on Party Patrol to respond. • After backup arrived made contact with homeowner (son, no parents present). • Determined alcohol present & minors in possession. • Homeowners notified, parents of other minors contacted.

30. Case Example Deep River, CT May 2009 • Prom Night • Second Party same night called in from a neighbor to Troop. • Troopers responded with Youth Service Bureau Director. • Trooper observed many vehicles parked in roadway in front of residence. • Made contact with homeowner (both parents present). • Determined alcohol present & minors in possession.

31. Results of Two Parties Located in Chester and Deep River • 25 infractions issued for Possession of Alcohol by a Minor (30-89(b)(2)). • 1 Narcotics arrest. • 1 Juvenile Summons issued for Possession of Alcohol by a Minor (30-89(b)(2)).

32. Party Patrol Accomplishments • 26 Party Patrols were deployed from November 2008 thru September 2009. • Over 70 Infractions issued to minors for Possession of Alcohol by Minors, 3 Infractions issued to Parents for Hosting a Party & 2 Drug Arrests. • Extra patrols, visibility & omni-presence. • Increased awareness to youth & parents these laws are being enforced.

33. Party Patrol Accomplishments • Relationship building between Youth Service Bureaus & State Police. • Mutual understanding of the challenges faced by YSB Directors & Resident Trooper/SRO’s. • Increased public awareness of House Party laws & parental responsibility. • Controlled Party dispersal is a more effective way of dealing with underage drinking parties. • Trained civilians can play a role in assisting law enforcement with support activities.

34. Comparative ResultsCSP – Troops F & K • 2007: 48 cases of underage drinking infractions issued. • 2009: 116 cases of underage drinking infractions issued. • Total increase of 142%.

35. Challenges • Universal understanding of everyone’s roles & responsibilities. • Effective communication to all parties involved in the 6 towns. • Introducing new people to the Controlled Party Dispersal process. • Understanding confidentiality and dissemination of police procedures. • Parents seeing underage drinking as a right of passage & not recognizing all the ramifications/liability of hosting or condoning it.

36. Limiting Social Access and Media Campaign

37. Building Partnerships and Supporting Local Businesses That Sell or Serve Alcohol • Offered training so that employees could feel an increased confidence in their ability to handle situations involving, among other things, underage drinking. • Between November 2009 and April 2010, we offered training to every liquor store outlet, bar and restaurant in our six communities. • Employees from six liquor store outlets and two restaurants have been trained. • The liquor control board will be running compliance checks soon.

39. “Party Line” Program in Each of Six Communities This provides parents with a tool for networking with other parents around providing drug/alcohol- free homes for young people to socialize.

41. Speaker Presentations Our speaker presentations on the effects of alcohol pointed to the mounting evidence that the use of alcohol can have lasting harmful effects on the developing teen brain.

42. Our Public Service Announcement was a hard hitting message that parents should not provide alcohol to minors.

44. The message in our nationally recognized “Beer Bottle Baby” billboard was very direct. As parents, we need to protect our teenage children from underage drinking just as we protected their health and well-being when they were babies.

45. I

47. We sent that message, in the form of a postcard, to every mailing address in our six communities. That’s about 20,000 postcards !

49. Sustainability • A “Town Hall Meeting” • Meeting with Boards of Selectmen and YSB Boards of Directors representing all six communities. • A four page brochure was developed to highlight the coalition’s successes. • A meeting was held with representatives of the Boards of Directors and town government from all three youth service bureaus serving the towns of Haddam, Killingworth, East Haddam, Chester, Essex and Deep River to deliver a presentation about the successes of the SPF/SIG in all six communities. • A follow up meeting has been requested by the officials of our towns for the purpose of discussing the sustainability of the law enforcement initiatives implemented by the coalition and the possibility of future funding to continue the work of the coalition.

50. Contact Us • Cheryl Chandler cheryl@hkyfs.org 860-345-7498 • Toni McCabe toni.mccabe@prodigy.net (860) 873-3296 • Gail Onofrio ttysb@aol.com (860) 526-3600 • Trooper Matthew Ward mtward12213@sbcglobal.net (860) 399-2100 • Trooper James Connelly Csp1372@aol.com (860) 399-2100