New Prevention Partners Join the THM Movement

Doctors, students, mothers, and the Elks. What do these disparate groups have in common? All took a lead role in the 2010 Town Hall Meetings (THMs) to prevent underage drinking.

CSAP/SAMHSA organizes THMs in partnership with members of the National Prevention Network (NPN), the alcohol and drug prevention leaders in the States and territories. NPN members perform a critical role as the principal recommenders of community-based organizations (CBOs) for THMs.

For the 2010 THM initiative, CSAP/SAMHSA invited additional partners, focusing on national or broad-based organizations that would increase the number of CBOs and THM events and reach a larger and more diverse group of THM participants.

Due to the efforts of NPN and these new partners, the THM movement has experienced unprecedented success this year. Nearly 1,800 CBOs are scheduled to host close to 2,000 THMs throughout the spring and summer months—a significant increase over prior years.

New partners ranged from youth and cultural groups to professional and civic organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (Elks).

These groups joined the thousands of dedicated CBOs, including the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), and grantees that had conducted successful THMs in 2006 and 2008.

New partner organizations were selected based on their ability to expand the reach of the THM initiative—national organizations that could increase participation in each State through their infrastructure and network of enthusiastic community-based chapters. Contacts at the national offices recommended local affiliates that would host and promote a THM. While many of the new partners were focused on reducing and preventing underage drinking, others were among a broader range of organizations that, while not focused solely on underage drinking, were closely aligned with reducing underage drinking abuse.

The addition of new partners underscores the importance of bringing a wide range of stakeholders into the discussion to identify and implement effective community-specific interventions. Each partner brings a unique perspective and value to the issue of underage drinking and has a vital role to play in prevention efforts.

Nothing surpasses the power of peer-to-peer communication. Youth want to be part of the solution and involving youth in discussions about underage drinking prevention keeps it real. Partnerships with SADD and other CBOs have contributed to a total of 274 youth-led THMs. Friday Night Live, a youth-oriented group based in California (FNL), was a leader in conducting youth-led THMs in that State.

Parents are still the strongest influence in a child’s life. THMs organized by MADD have the potential to ignite and sustain a community’s underage drinking prevention initiative.

The medical professionals in the Academy of Pediatrics enrich prevention efforts with their knowledge of the health consequences and warning signs of alcohol abuse. The Elks are a natural fit for the THMs, with a vital drug and alcohol awareness initiative run by volunteers in more than 2,000 communities across the country.

Conducting a THM can be challenging, but initial reports from the field provide evidence that the hard work of CBOs is paying off. “[We] hope to land a few more [Town Hall Meetings] and make sure we continue to highlight the benefit of youth-led and youth-driven Town Hall Meetings. Your [CSAP/SAMHSA] resources provide our young people with a great opportunity to build their skills and bring the community together for positive change,” said Dr. Jim Kooler, administrator, Friday Night Live Partnership.

A new THM partner host reported, “We had good participation by families and nice media coverage with photos and stories. For a first-time effort by our coalition, I think we did a good job getting the word out and making a very positive impression on the community.”