Spokane
Community Mobilization Against Substance Abuse
(SCMASA)
Task Force
Through the creation of the Omnibus Controlled Substances and Alcohol Abuse Act of 1989, Community Mobilization was established to involve community members in creating safe and healthy communities. These efforts have been successful in reducing the risk factors and enhancing protective factors associated with substance abuse, violence and all related social skills. In 1994, Washington State voters reaffirmed their support for Community Mobilization as a continuing priority, through passage of the state omnibus Youth Violence Prevention Act.
Community Mobilization is cost effective! Nearly 90 percent of the Community Mobilization funding goes directly to communities and neighborhoods to fund grass-roots solutions. Through community ownership and responsibility, each county defines its own unique needs and solutions to prevent and intervene in substance abuse and violence. Community Mobilization’s principles are focused on doing things
with people, not to people. Community Mobilization reflects the local community and actively involves youth and parents, bringing together geographically, ethnically, and culturally diverse groups to maximize their resources by involving people who care!
GSSAC’s Community Mobilization program works to empower the community around effective prevention through the strategies below:
Community Mobilization Subcontractors:
GSSAC provides financial support to selected agencies and groups to assist with their efforts. This funding has allowed groups to provide needed services and enhance existing programs to strengthen their work and their neighborhoods.
Current subcontractors include:
Afterschool Programming—YWCA of Spokane
Effective Black Parenting—East Central Community Center
Indian Youth Leadership Camp—N.A.T.I.V.E. Project
Recreational Assistance Program—Cheney Outreach
Sports, Skills Development Prevention Program—West Central Community Center
Coalition Building:
GSSAC recognizes the vital importance of an entire community working together towards effective solutions. Therefore, coalition building is a major goal. This effort includes the ongoing work of the GSSAC Community Coalition which brings multiple groups and community members together to combine resources. In addition, GSSAC supports other coalitions by serving on various Boards and providing resources that strengthen their efforts.
Training:
Another way that GSSAC empowers others towards effective prevention is through training. We provide a series of training on prevention science, Meth prevention and other areas. These trainings help give groups the knowledge and skills to enhance their efforts.
Advocacy/Education:
While supporting prevention efforts throughout Spokane County, GSSAC also realizes the importance of having policies and community practices that support healthy choices. Therefore, GSSAC works to counter policies and practices that seem to promote or encourage underage or unhealthy drinking. These efforts have lead to positive community changes such as youth fundraising events no longer serving alcohol.
Community Awareness:
Finally, promoting awareness of critical issues throughout the community is a goal for GSSAC. To accomplish this goal, a marketing campaign provides selected messages through billboards and other advertising venues. Along with paid advertising, GSSAC strives to promote awareness through media sources such as articles in local papers and interviews on local television news stations. These efforts allow a large population to receive important messages and help to create positive awareness around critical issues.
Community Mobilization Programs are funded through the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (Federal) and the Violence Reduction and Drug Enforcement Account
(VRDE-State).
