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Vision: To establish a healthy community that supports youth and families.
Mission: To develop a coalition of residents, businesses and community institutions to create an environment free of drugs for youth
Pictured from left to right: Laura Ramirez, Nellie Granados, Martha Garcia, and Daisy Quezada
Promotoras from Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies of Maricopa County
May 2011
Since July 2010, the C.O.P.E. Coalition has partnered with the Promotoras from Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies of Maricopa County (http://www.itsababyslife.com/) to provide a variety of services to reduce underage drinking in Maryvale. This neighborhood liaison program engages participants to take on a grassroots approach to community involvement. C.O.P.E. would like to thank the Promotoras from Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies for their excellent work, service and dedication to the coalition. Here are some highlights of their accomplishments:
Thank you, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
Martha Garcia, Nellie Granados, Laura Ramirez, Daisy Quezada, Silvia Salas, Claudia Medina, Julissa Guzman, Veronica Parra-Mungarro, Ana Garza, Valeria De la Rosa
2011 Wake Up! All Night Rally @ Isaac Middle School, Phoenix, AZ
May 21, 2011
The 2011 Wake Up! All Night Rally was again a success! This year there were 55 youth participants, along with 19 parents, that participated in this educational, fun activity. The parents stayed for a couple of hours, while the youth stayed all night long, hence the name. They were exposed to workshops that taught drug/alcohol prevention, anger management, and team building. The night was filled with fun activities and games, a presentation from the Jewish youth improv theatre troupe called All Rights Reserved, a dinner and an obstacle course in which the youth participants wore goggles that simulated blurred vision that occurs from drinking excessively. The City of Phoenix Police Wake Up! afterschool program was the lead coordinator for the event. Collaborating agencies were from the City Prosecutor’s office, TERROS/COPE Coalition, Touchstone/Isaac Anti-Drug Community Coalition, and the National Guard. The youth participants walked away with several small prizes, a t-shirt and a backpack, before going home to go to bed after the long fun-filled night.
Lead for this event:
Officer Bobbie Moreland
Wake Up! c.e.a.s. Violence Coordinator
Maryvale Precinct
Refugee Teen Photovoice Exhibition at Grand Canyon University
February 25, 2011
Over the summer of 2010 a group of refugee teenagers worked with COPE Coalition staff member Jeff Welch, Canyon Corridor Community Coalition member Jak Keyser, and International Rescue Committee staff member Alexandra Ostasiewicz on a Photovoice Project. Three of the youth participants are in the photo above, along with two parents, and Mr. Welch & Mr. Keyser. The youth were provided with cameras and instructions as they took photos over a period of two months in their community. Out of the several hundred photos that were taken the youth selected their favorite photos to include in their final group portfolio. In addition to the photos, the youth wrote brief descriptions of why each photo was important to the youth. The photos and written descriptions are compiled together to create the Photovoice Exhibition, which is currently on display at the Grand Canyon University Library (3300 West Camelback Road).
Prior to this Exhibition, the photos were on display at the Christown YMCA. If you are associated with an organization in West Phoenix that would like to host the Teen Refuge Photovoice Exhibition, contact Jeff Welch at jeffreyw@terros.org. The goal of the project has been to provide a pro-social activity for youth that helps prevent risk factors leading to drug use, while providing a context to inspire community dialogue about the diversity within the West Phoenix area.
General hours at the library are 7am to 10pm, though they fluctuate at times. If you would like to see the display, call the library to be sure it is open: 602.639-6641.
To read an article posted on the GCU website regarding the Photovoice Exhibition, click here.
To see a video that highlights this Photovoice exhibit and one of the participants, click here.
Apple Will Reject D.U.I. Checkpoints Apps
Apple specifically wrote in its new iOS review guidelines:
Apps which contain DUI checkpoints that are not published by law enforcement agencies, or encourage and enable drunk driving, will be rejected.
2010 Alcohol Free Quinceañera was a huge success!
Visit the COPE Coalition Quinceañera webpage for details.
COPE Coalition Meetings Schedule
1) COPE Coalition Meetings
10/25/2011- 6pm to 730pm at the Maryvale Community Center 4420 N. 51st Ave. (North of Indian School)
2) COPE Coalition Advisory Board Meeting at John F. Long Family Service Center
430pm to 530pm
3) COPE Coalition Meeting at Location to be Determined
Questions? Email: info@copecoalitionaz.org
This parent-to-parent blog tackles the real, everyday issues we face in raising healthy teens. The blog is offered through The Partnership at Drugfree.org. Some of the discussion topics posted are:
By Celia Vimont | July 29, 2011 The Partnership at Drugfree.org
When parents find out their teen is abusing drugs or alcohol, the family’s immediate focus is generally on getting help for the teen. But parents are often in great need of help themselves. They may need advice on what to say to their teen, how to evaluate whether he or she needs professional treatment and where to find the appropriate substance abuse treatment program if one is needed. A new toll-free telephone helpline is providing that assistance.
The Parents Toll-Free Helpline, 1-855-DRUGFREE (1-855-378-4373),... read full article.
COPE Coalition has initiated a bilingual media campaign that encourages the community to call the Liquor Enforcement hotline when they see a store selling alcohol to an individual under 21. The campaign includes print ads in Prensa Hispana and in TV & Mas.
To report a store that you witness a youth purchasing alcohol, call: 602-438-6625
To view and print the message: click here
The National Drug Intelligence Center has released a 2011 report titled,The Economic Impact of Illicit Drug Use on American Society. This report shows the dollar value of the the consequences of illicit drug use, thereby allowing its impact to be gauged relative to other social problems. In 2007, the cost of illicit drug use totaled
more than $193 billion.To view the report, click here.
On June 16, 2011 the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council, announced the release of the National Prevention Strategy (PDF – 1.81 MB), a comprehensive plan that will help increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life. The National Prevention Strategy recognizes that good health comes not just from receiving quality medical care, but also from clean air and water, safe outdoor spaces for physical activity, safe worksites, healthy foods, violence-free environments and healthy homes. Prevention should be woven into all aspects of our lives, including where and how we live, learn, work and play. Everyone—businesses, educators, health care institutions, government, communities and every single American—has a role in creating a healthier nation.
National Prevention Strategy Fact Sheet
Every two years the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission administers a statewide survey among 8th, 10th and 12th graders that assess the risk and protective factors pertaining to drug and alcohol abuse. The 2010 results are now available to view. See the link below to the COPE Resources page, and then click on the Arizona Youth Survey Resources tab to access the latest results.
Listen to a Short PSA on Binge Drinking
Binge drinking* is a dangerous behavior for all ages. Drinking too much, including binge drinking, causes more than 79,000 deaths in the US each year and is a leading preventable cause of death. Binge drinking has not been well-recognized as a public health problem. More than 15% of US adults report binge drinking. It is most common in men, adults in the 18–34 age range, and people with household incomes of $75,000 or more. This is a community issue, not just an individual issue. This CDC report points out how common binge drinking is and what can be done about it.
*Binge drinking means men drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks within a short period of time or women drinking 4 or more drinks during a short period of time.
Information referenced directly from the website accessible from the link above. 11/22/10
The New Mexico Activities Association, with the support of the New Mexico Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Bureau and the assistance of the American Athletic Institute, hasl launched an interactive on-line, student-athlete alcohol education program. The program is focused specifically on the negative effects of alcohol consumption upon an athlete’s athletic performance and life.
Visit the website: http://www.lifeofanathlete.com/index.aspx
Stop selling alcohol to minors
Jackie Gomez, a student at Maryvale High School and member of the Maryvale Youth in M.O.T.I.O.N. and C.OP.E. Coalitions Youth Council wrote a Letter to the Editor that was published in the Arizona Republic and www.azcentral.com. The article related to the prevention of underage drinking! Please see the following link to read the letter:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2010/10/07/20101007thurlets076.html
With the help of Touchstone Behavioral Health staff, who are also COPE Coalition staff members, we have a new resource to highlight our activities and messages. We have a new COPE Coalition YouTube page. Videos will continue to be added as they are uploaded and produced. Check it out to see a few of the PSAs & activities that are currently on the page.
Visit the COPE Coalition YouTube webpage!
Last December, several advertisements for an all-age RAVE being held in East Phoenix were brought to the attention of Department of Liquor investigators by a citizen. In the email, the citizen stated that "underage performers", "all-you-can-drink for a flat fee" and "having underagers at the bar" events were planned weekly at this unlicensed location. An undercover investigator visited the location and observed approximately 80 patrons, liquor being sold and consumed, in addition to one patron who offered the investigator the drug Ecstasy for purchase. Additional law enforcement resources were required here. Department of Liquor investigators and approximately 17 officers from the Phoenix Police Department returned to this location on New Year's Eve.
Click here for the whole press release.
Lee Hill
Communications and Special Projects Director
Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control
800 West Washington St., 5th Floor
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: 602-364-1936
Attention Maryvale Agencies and Parents! Do you have youth leaders who want the opportunity to positively impact their community? Tell them about the Maryvale Youth in MOTION- Motivated Organized Teens Impacting Our Neighborhood. Meetings are held the 2ndTuesday of the month at the Maryvale Community Center at 4420 N. 51st Ave. from 5-7:00pm. Youth from all over Maryvale plan youth driven events, earn community service hours, win prizes, and have fun! Contact Tracy Pedrotti at 602-527-6284 or tracypedrotti@mail.maricopa.gov for more information.
Also visit: www.streetsofsuccess.org
