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What is the GCSAPP?
The GCSAPP is a project funded through a 4 year state grant that identified Gunnison County as one of 14 counties in the state at highest risk for substance abuse.
In the summer of 2006, a coalition of 25 residents, professionals and youth was formed to work on impacting community level change throughout the Valley. All of the GCSAPP efforts to reduce and prevention substance abuse are based in current research and evidence-based practices.
This working group has engaged in extensive surveying and research throughout and from those results, developed a comprehensive Strategic Plan which currently guides the coalition’s efforts.
Members of the working group include the following community groups: County Commissioners, Crested Butte Marshall’s Office, Gunnison District Court, Gunnison High School students, Gunnison School District, Gunnison Police Department, Gunnison Office of Public Health, Gunnison Valley Hospital, Health and Human Services, Juvenile Diversion, Lake Preschool, Mental Health Center of Gunnison, Municipal Court, Multicultural Office Partners, Restorative Justice, Social Justice Committee, St. Peter’s Church, Union Congregational Church, Western State College. The group also includes citizens interested in the prevention of underage drinking in Gunnison County.
Some highlights of the GCSAPP’s work include:
• "Now is the Time" Campaign- We've created a social marketing campaign targeting parents of 5th to 8th graders. This campaign encourages parents to talk with their children about drugs and alcohol now. Look for our ads in the local newspapers and here online.
• Hired a Prevention Education Coordinator- This is a collaborative funding effort between GCSAPP, Western State College and Gunnison Watershed School District. The Coordinator splits her time between the college and the district and works with students and staff to provide prevention education, alternative drug and alcohol free events, and helps the GCSAPP to carry out evaluation efforts.
• Data Collection- Partnering with the school district we have surveyed 6-12 graders in the district through the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey. The results from this yearly survey are used to create prevention programs for students. Click here for our most recent data report from 2006-2007. We also sent a survey to all parents of students in grades 1-12. This survey provides information on attitudes and perceptions of parents, and helps us to understand where parents stand on the issues of substance use. This winter we are also administering the CORE survey to Western State College students to gather data on substance use at the college level.
• Engaging the Multi-Cultural Community- We co-sponsored a summer barbeque with the Literacy Program. We also sponsored the Gunnison Atletica Soccer Team this summer. We are currently in the process of translating our parent survey into spanish and plan on hosting a dinner in February 2008 to discuss the survey and what the hispanic community would like to see in terms of prevention programs specifically aimed at that community.
• Presenting the data- We have engaged in various outreach efforts to share the data that we have about underage substance use in Gunnison County. We have presented that data to hundred's of people throughout the community including to groups such as: Gunnison City Council, Crested Butte Town Council, Gunnison Valley Hospital, Gunnison and Crested Butte Rotary, the Ministerial Alliance, Crested Butte and Gunnison PTA and parents groups and many more.
• Sponsoring alcohol free events- We have sponsored various drug and alcohol free events including an "After Vinotok" party for middle schoolers, a dinner with parents and kids involved with the Peaceful Warriors Climbing Club, sposnored the Sage Burner trail run at Hartman's, sponsored the Wondergirl 5K race, sponsored a Gunnison Soccer League team, sponsor of the Nutcracker Ballet at the Gunnison Arts Center. One of the GCSAPP's goals is to support community based programming.
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The GCSAPP works as a coalition of community groups. The project has three staff:
Molly Mugglestone - Project Director
Brooke Harless - Project Coordinator
Leah Goetz - Prevention Education Coordinator
To contact our office please call 970-642-7396 or email us at: contact@gcsapp.net
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