Presenter: James Baker

Institute for Public StrategiesInstitute for Public Strategies

www.publicstrategies.orgwww.publicstrategies.org

Binational ChallengesBinational Challenges Needed a new Prevention Model:Needed a new Prevention Model:

–To address public health issues through changes in policy and community normTo address public health issues through changes in policy and community norm

–That can be applied along the borderThat can be applied along the border

Environmental Prevention Environmental Prevention ModelModel

PolicyPolicy

Media Media AdvocacyAdvocacy

Intentional Intentional OrganizingOrganizing

EnforcementEnforcement

Applied Applied Data and Data and ResearcResearc

hh

Effective Effective PreventioPreventio

n n CampaignCampaign

The Border Project is an example of testing the The Border Project is an example of testing the Environmental Prevention Model in a binational Environmental Prevention Model in a binational environmentenvironment

Results proven through NIHResults proven through NIH

The Border Project has been designated a Model The Border Project has been designated a Model Program by the United State Department of Health Program by the United State Department of Health and Human Servicesand Human Services

Border Project –Border Project – Applied DataApplied Data

10-12 thousand youth under 25 years old frequent Tijuana bars every weekend night.

More police calls-for-service to the Border Area than any other area in the City of San Diego .

Exceptionally high number of DUIs emanating from the border - travel distances are substantial.

Violence and crime harming border area’s reputation and economic vitality.

Identified ProblemIdentified Problem

Border Project –Border Project – Intentional Intentional OrganizingOrganizing

Right people at the right timeRight people at the right time

Border Project –Border Project – Media AdvocacyMedia Advocacy

Border Project –Border Project – Media AdvocacyMedia Advocacy

More that 1000 news stories generated in both English and SpanishMore that 1000 news stories generated in both English and Spanish

TIJUANA BARS•RBSS-ID checking trainings•Ban banners at the bars•Restrict “barkers”

California Military

bases requires CHIT

Tijuana/San Diego OSC

to stop under 18 youth

from crossing the border

Baja California State

Legislature grants local

control to municipalities to

regulate alcohol

Tijuana City Hall ban “all you

can drink” and “ladies night

specials”

Baja California State Legislature

Recommended an Alcohol Advisory

Council with a majority of public

health and safety advocates

California Legislature ban bar

advertising targeting under 18

youth regardless of where the

bar is.

Border Project –Border Project – PolicyPolicy

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Friday

Saturday

Average Counts of Returning Pedestrians who are under 21

Bord

er

Cro

ssers

• Artificially low counts in 1997 due to survey hrs. 12am – 4am vs. 12am – 6am other years.Artificially low counts in 1997 due to survey hrs. 12am – 4am vs. 12am – 6am other years.• Missing pedestrian data in first two quarters of two quarters of 2000 due to nonaccurate population counts from INS.Missing pedestrian data in first two quarters of two quarters of 2000 due to nonaccurate population counts from INS.

Source: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation PIRE

Border Project –Border Project – Measurable Measurable ResultsResults

51% reduction in <21 BAC between .02 - .07951% reduction in <21 BAC between .02 - .079

37% fewer late night crossers with BAC >= .0837% fewer late night crossers with BAC >= .08

26% fewer late night partiers26% fewer late night partiers

Nightime DUI fatalities on border region freeways Nightime DUI fatalities on border region freeways reduced from reduced from 23 to 5 in one year23 to 5 in one year

Formation of the Border Policy CouncilFormation of the Border Policy Council

Border Project –Border Project – Measurable Measurable ResultsResults

Border Project –Border Project – Model ProgramModel Program

Original Focus

Expanded Focus

GOAL: Reduce ATOD-related problems in the border region utilizing the Environmental Prevention Model

Border Project –Border Project – VisionVision

Binational Policy CouncilBinational Policy Council

Umbrella coalition to broaden application of the Umbrella coalition to broaden application of the environmental prevention model to reduce public health environmental prevention model to reduce public health problems in the border region:problems in the border region:– AlcoholAlcohol

– Tobacco Use and PromotionTobacco Use and Promotion

– Pharmaceutical Drug Pharmaceutical Drug

– Illicit DrugIllicit Drug

– HIVHIV

Vehicle to place defined issues high on the public agenda Vehicle to place defined issues high on the public agenda and to make policy recommendationsand to make policy recommendations

Border Project –Border Project – Binational Policy Binational Policy CouncilCouncil

– Effective January 2004 the Baja California State Legislature gave the municipalities authority to regulate alcohol policy and law in accordance with local communities needs

Recommended that an Alcohol Advisory Council be formed with a majority of members to be public health and safety advocates

Development of Development of Tijuana Citizens’ CouncilTijuana Citizens’ Council

Binational Policy Council – Binational Policy Council – Current Current PrioritiesPriorities

– Effective January 2004 the Tijuana City Hall banned the “All You Can Drink” and “Ladies Night” Specials in Tijuana’s Bars

This ban is aimed to reduce alcohol related problems to improve public health and safety in the border area.

Community Based Enforcement Community Based Enforcement ofofTijuana Bar Drink SpecialsTijuana Bar Drink Specials

Binational Policy Council – Binational Policy Council – Current Current PrioritiesPriorities

Effective in January of 2004 California Effective in January of 2004 California Legislature made it illegal for any CA Legislature made it illegal for any CA advertiser to promote any bar targeting advertiser to promote any bar targeting individuals under 21 years of age individuals under 21 years of age regardless of where the drinking will take regardless of where the drinking will take placeplace

– Amended section 25664 of the CA Business and Amended section 25664 of the CA Business and Professional CodeProfessional Code

Community Based Enforcement of Community Based Enforcement of CA Legislated Control of AdvertisingCA Legislated Control of Advertising

Binational Policy Council – Binational Policy Council – Current Current PrioritiesPriorities

Action Steps: Subcommittees

– Policy Subcommittee

– Enforcement Subcommittee

– Media Action Team

Strategizing Implementation Strategizing Implementation CampaignCampaign

Binational Policy Council – Binational Policy Council – Current Current PrioritiesPriorities

IPS Office Locations

San Diego, CA

Tijuana, B.C.

Bozeman, MT

Chiapas

www.publicstrategies.orgwww.publicstrategies.org

Migrant Central Migrant Central American Sex WorkersAmerican Sex Workers

Binational Policy Council – Binational Policy Council – Project in Current Project in Current DevelopmentDevelopment