You’ve Been Caught!

How a Coalition has Joined Forces with Multiple Law Enforcement Agencies to Address Alcohol

and Marijuana Use by Youth

Presenters

Patti Warmington, MA, CPC Director of Wellness and Prevention--Life

Guidance Services Chair – Kent County Prevention Coalition

Josh Hansen, M.Div Community Organizer—Wedgwood Christian

Services

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the process by which the Kent County Prevention Coalition (KCPC) is building a partnership with multiple law enforcement agencies.

2. Align this process to the Strategic Prevention Framework

3. Receive a model for that process in the form of our MIP brochure

Agenda

1. Introduce the Project 1. Introduce the Project

2. MIP Project Process 2. MIP Project Process

3. The Tools3. The Tools

4. Questions and Comments 4. Questions and Comments

A Little Reminder of Focus

The Kent County Prevention Coalition

A formalized, multi-sector coalition with A formalized, multi-sector coalition with representation from various communities representation from various communities in Kent Countyin Kent County Responsible for promoting a common vision, Responsible for promoting a common vision,

increased awareness and collaboration to increased awareness and collaboration to advance substance abuse prevention efforts advance substance abuse prevention efforts in Kent County.in Kent County.

Focused on building and mobilizing capacity Focused on building and mobilizing capacity to impact population level change.to impact population level change.

Comprised of a wide variety of stakeholders Comprised of a wide variety of stakeholders from around the county with nearly 30 active from around the county with nearly 30 active voting members.voting members.

The Law Enforcement Gap

2009: The Kent County Prevention

Coalition identified that youth, with MIP

infractions, were provided inconsistent

information by law enforcement

agencies.

Additional Factors

Over 12 separate law enforcement

agencies in the county

Perceived differences in prevention

and enforcement

Poor economic conditions

Enforcement priorities

At the Same Time…

In April 2009, KCPC membership, law enforcement officers and court officials attended a webinar:

“Partnership Power: Anti-Drug Groups and Law Enforcement”

Discussion resulted in the KCPC forming the MIP Ad Hoc Committee.

A SPF Overview

Assessment

Total enforcement of MIP citations Equal enforcement? Violation process

Brief intervention Who got them? Any how chosen?

Social justice concerns Unequal enforcement across race and income?

Social Norm Level of parental concern?

Capacity: The MIP Ad Hoc Team

Representatives agreed to participate from: Prevention service providers A youth serving agency SUD Coordinating Agency Several youth representatives

Members had prior relationships with: One police chief Family Court

Planning: Goals

Kent County Strategic Plan Behavioral Goals Addressed:

•Reduce Youth Alcohol Use and Binge Drinking•Reduce Use of Marijuana by Teens

Coalition’s Capacity Goal•Increase Law Enforcement Participation in Prevention Efforts

MIP Ad Hoc Vision

•Every effort should be made for enforcement

of all underage alcohol violations.

•Every effort should be made for enforcement

of all underage marijuana violations

•Timely requirement for screening, brief

intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT)

in ALL cases.

Planning: Vision

SBIRT- What Is It?

•The SBIRT Initiative targets those with nondependent substance use and provides effective strategies for intervention prior to the need for more extensive or specialized treatment.•Brief intervention is generally restricted to four or fewer sessions, each session lasting from a few minutes to 1 hour, and is designed to be conducted by health professionals who do not specialize in addictions treatment.•http://sbirt.samhsa.gov/about.htm

Planning: Purpose

•We care about the health and safety of all youth.•We recognize that they are uniquely at risk because of their developing brains.•Partnerships between law enforcement and prevention create opportunities for change.•We envision community norms that discourage underage use.•We seek to create uniformity and parity within the intervention systems in Kent County.

Planning: The Brochure Idea

Prior to the MIP Ad Hoc, one provider, Alert Labs of GVSU, had used an awareness brochure with measurable success.

This began the discussion of whether a county wide brochure could:

1. Educate youth & parents about MIP’s

2. Increase use of SBIRT alternatives

3. Secure law enforcement support

Planning: Theory of Change

law enforcement provides a MIP brochure to the majority of youth cited with a MIP offense,

If

Theory of Change

youth and their parent(s) will have increased knowledge of the MIP process and the availability and value of seeking a timely SBIRT program for the youth

Then

Theory of Change

youth and their parent(s) will seek a timely SBIRT program for the youth

Then

Theory of Change

more youth will receive an intervention to identify and, if needed, address any SUD concerns

Then

Theory of Change

there is a reduction in the youth’s AOD use behavior

Then

Theory of Change

there is a reduction in offenses of alcohol and marijuana use by youth.

Then

Planning: Building a Logic Model

Implementation: Strategies

•Enforcement: Build a relationship with law enforcement agencies to encourage the concept that MIP citation to youth IS in the youth’s best interest.•Norms: Promotion of timely SBIRT diversion options increases identification of those needing treatment.•Policy: Youth receiving first MIP offense are referred for SBIRT options (with or without other court recommendations).

Implementation: Activities

1. Partner with law enforcement:

For their approval of concept

(brochure)

Their input into the development

Their willingness to distribute

Their final approval of tool

Implementation: Activities, con’t

2. Meet with family court officials to

better understand the MIP process

and gain their support and approval of

tool.

3. Law enforcement agencies

distribute tool to ALL offenders

Implementation: Activities, con’t

4. Review similar products and their

effectiveness.

5. Collect local data for potential use

in tool.

Implementation: Activities, con’t

6. Disclaimer – “not legal advice”.

7. DesignCoalition colorsCatchy cover

Implementation: Activities, con’t

8. Content

Information

Tested statistics and state laws

Help resources

Information on SBIRT & diversion

Credit statements

Implementation: Activities, con’t

9. Feedback and input on draft:Families in brief interventionsYouth in the communityLaw enforcementJudges and probation officers

They were asked:What do you like or dislike?Is it relevant?Would you use it?Is it helpful? Why?

Implementation: The County Chief’s Meeting

In September of 2009 a preliminary brochure was presented to all of Kent county’s law enforcement chief’s at their monthly meeting.

Departments were asked if they would like to use MIP brochure in their MIP process and to sign up if interested.

14 of 14 departments signed up.Funding for the first printing (4,000/ $437)

was donated by MADD Michigan.

Evaluation: Our Next Steps

Additional feedback from the brochure has created several next steps:

The necessity of increasing SBIRT awareness KCPC Courts & Probation

Translation into Spanish Expanding demand for distribution

Drivers education School safety officers

Interest has been expressed in college and a marijuana only focused brochure.

Evaluation: Data Collection

Our basic measures: Number of requests for brief interventions

before and after brochure distribution Network180 Access Center United Way: 211

Process: How many distributed and where?

Comments on Success

Police comments AnecdoteKeys to success

Get law enforcement on board at the beginning: “we want to help you do your job easier”.

Be open to feedback: be prepared to revise many times.

Find out who has access to law enforcement. Product: easy to use; easy to get.

History of MIP Brochure

Evaluation and Follow up Activities

Partnership Power: Webinar

Final Tool Presented to Law Enforcement

Kent County MIP Ad Hoc Formed

Tool Delivered to Law Enforcement

Concept Presented to Judicial and Law Enforcement

April 2009

August 2009

Sept. 2010

Feb. 2010

Sept. 2010

July 2009

Usage and Contact

If you’d like to use the MIP brochure, please recognize our efforts and tell us.

If you’d like more information: Patti Warmington

pwarmington@lifeguidanceservices.org 616-464-2946 x184

Joshua Hansen jhansen@wedgwood.org 616-942-2110

Questions and Comments?