In the late fall of 2007, a number of concerned people in our valley met to find ways to more cooperatively and comprehensively address the problem of substance abuse in Sevier Valley. 

We sought and have succeeded in bringing together people from education and law enforcement, public health and the religious community, business and mental health, to name a few.

Our goal as a coalition is:

       - to guide prevention work in order to utilize resources efficiently

       - to reduce the burden of substance abuse to our communities and

       - to keep our local perspective while doing so.

Coalitions take the long view for their communities, not a crises-of-the-day approach.  They evaluate problems, needs, and solutions long term.  The impact and effect of coalition prevention efforts become apparent three to five years down the road.

Sevier Valley Substance Abuse Coalition uses the Communities That Care model, a prevention-planning system grounded in rigorous research.  This model takes a public health approach to prevention:

        It is comprehensive and community-wide. 

        It uses demonstrated predictors for positive youth outcomes (protective factors)         and predictors for problem behaviors (risk factors) as it works to build protective shields for our young people. 

Communities That Care has a wide range of prevention programs we can use, with proven results.  We do not have to reinvent the wheel.  Even as we want to help our young people, childhood is not our end goal.  We are aiming for responsible, productive adults who add to their communities.

Sevier Valley Substance Abuse Coalition (SVSAC) is still in the early stages of coalition development.  We have applied for non-profit status, with the kind assistance of Brad Ramsey. 

We will be applying for a grant to fund at least one full-time employee.  As we look at other coalitions in the state, it is clear that those who benefit their communities the most do not depend on volunteers alone.  We are fortunate to have on our board Leanne Geigle, a prevention specialist at Central Utah Counseling Center, but Leanne covers a three county area and SVSAC is only one of the many things she does.  Even so, we are moving forward.  On September 12th we will host our Second Annual Substance Conference at the Sevier Valley Center.  This conference is open to the public at no cost and all are welcome.

For any substance abuse prevention program to work it needs the broad support of people from the community.  If you would like to get involved, please call us.  There is much that can be done if more people get involved.  You don’t need to be an expert on substance abuse; many of us are learning as we go.  If you have questions and concerns regarding substance abuse, please call us.  We are here to help.

Warmly,

Linda Hunt Anton,

Pastor, Valley Community Presbyterian Church

Chair, Sevier Valley Substance Abuse Coalition