• Have you heard about the SAFE Coalition?
• Do you know about SAFE Coalition Activities?
• Are you interested in Making Van Buren County a SAFE Place to live?
We encourage you to join the SAFE Coalition! Maybe one of your New Years Resolutions was to make a difference in your community or to volunteer more of your time. If this is true the SAFE Coalition is for you!
The SAFE Coalition is always in need of new members, especially parents of teens! We want your input on our activities and projects. Are we making a difference in the community and the lives of teens? We need your help to be sure that we are.
We encourage you to check out our website at www.vbsafecoalition or attend our next meeting on January 11, 2011 at the Roberts Memorial Center, or contact us at 319-293-6412 for more information on how you can get involved with the coalition.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
A little holiday cheer can sometimes unfortunately go a long way. Remember, Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.
• The holidays are a time to eat, drink and be merry, but when drivers fail to be responsible, those few glasses of eggnog can quickly turn one of the happiest times of the year into a nightmare. Too often impaired drivers don’t plan ahead and end-up making the roads unsafe for everyone.
• That is why this holiday season Van Buren County SAFE Coalition is reminding all drivers to keep the party off the road. Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.
• The holidays are particularly deadly due to the high number of drunk drivers on the roads. During the month of December 2009, 753 people were killed in crashes that involved a driver or motorcycle rider (operator) with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.
• Another eight percent of the population also admitted to riding in a vehicle with a driver who they believe had had too much to drink. Young males were at particularly high risk, with nearly one-quarter admitting to riding with someone who should not have been behind the wheel.
• While many people have gotten the message loud and clear, there are still millions that just don’t understand that alcohol and driving are a deadly combination!
No matter who you are, drunk driving has serious consequences.
• Not only do you risk killing or injuring yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be significant.
• Drunk driving violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses ranging from attorney fees, court costs, car towing and repairs, and lost wages due to time off from work.
• Don’t let your 2010 end with an arrest…or worse, death. Plan before you go out, and remember, whether you’ve had way too many or just one too many it’s just not worth the risk.
Impaired drivers who fail to plan ahead, take the holiday spirit right out of this happy time. Here are a few simple tips to avoid a drunk driving disaster:
• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
• If you’re impaired, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely;
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement;
• And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
More information can be found on www.StopImpairedDriving.org or by contacting the SAFE Coalition at www.vbsafecoalition.com or 319-293-6412.
• The holidays are a time to eat, drink and be merry, but when drivers fail to be responsible, those few glasses of eggnog can quickly turn one of the happiest times of the year into a nightmare. Too often impaired drivers don’t plan ahead and end-up making the roads unsafe for everyone.
• That is why this holiday season Van Buren County SAFE Coalition is reminding all drivers to keep the party off the road. Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.
• The holidays are particularly deadly due to the high number of drunk drivers on the roads. During the month of December 2009, 753 people were killed in crashes that involved a driver or motorcycle rider (operator) with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.
• Another eight percent of the population also admitted to riding in a vehicle with a driver who they believe had had too much to drink. Young males were at particularly high risk, with nearly one-quarter admitting to riding with someone who should not have been behind the wheel.
• While many people have gotten the message loud and clear, there are still millions that just don’t understand that alcohol and driving are a deadly combination!
No matter who you are, drunk driving has serious consequences.
• Not only do you risk killing or injuring yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be significant.
• Drunk driving violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses ranging from attorney fees, court costs, car towing and repairs, and lost wages due to time off from work.
• Don’t let your 2010 end with an arrest…or worse, death. Plan before you go out, and remember, whether you’ve had way too many or just one too many it’s just not worth the risk.
Impaired drivers who fail to plan ahead, take the holiday spirit right out of this happy time. Here are a few simple tips to avoid a drunk driving disaster:
• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
• If you’re impaired, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely;
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement;
• And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
More information can be found on www.StopImpairedDriving.org or by contacting the SAFE Coalition at www.vbsafecoalition.com or 319-293-6412.
Monday, December 13, 2010
SAFE Coalition Staff Attend Training in Washington D.C.
Members of the Van Buren County SAFE Coalition recently attended the Drug Free Communities New Grantee Training in Washington D.C. This training is required of all grantees entering year 1 or year 6 of the grant. Kris Rankin and Heidi Bainbridge attended sessions to learn how to enhance the work of the coalition.
The DFC program was created by the Drug Free Communities Act of 1997, and was reauthorized by Congress in 2001 and 2006. Since 1998, ONDCP has awarded approximately 1,600 Drug-Free Communities grants to local communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Palau, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and, for the first time in FY 2010, the Federated States of Micronesia. The community coalitions’ goals are to address youth substance use. Coalitions that receive DFC funding must use the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). The SPF is a community planning model that allows for all DFC coalitions to speak a common language and engage in a common process for forward progression. Data shows that communities receiving DFC funding have seen significant reductions in past 30-day use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana among middle and high school students.
Rankin and Bainbridge attended three days of required meetings with grant program staff, federal partners and general coalition sessions to assist the coalition in moving their goals forward over the next five years. Information was provided by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), plus many other acclaimed speakers. Van Buren County SAFE Coalition Coordinator Bainbridge was also provided with the honor of being a speaker on the year 6 panel that presented grant information to year 1 DFC grantees.
Information about the training will be shared with all SAFE Coalition members at the December meeting. Additional trainings will be attended by various coalition members over the course of the life of the Drug Free Communities Grant. If you are interested in learning more about the SAFE Coalition, their activities or the Drug Free Communities Grant you may call their office at 319-293-6412 or via email at info@vbsafecoalition.com. They may also be found on the web at http://www.vbsafecoalition.com .
The DFC program was created by the Drug Free Communities Act of 1997, and was reauthorized by Congress in 2001 and 2006. Since 1998, ONDCP has awarded approximately 1,600 Drug-Free Communities grants to local communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Palau, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and, for the first time in FY 2010, the Federated States of Micronesia. The community coalitions’ goals are to address youth substance use. Coalitions that receive DFC funding must use the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). The SPF is a community planning model that allows for all DFC coalitions to speak a common language and engage in a common process for forward progression. Data shows that communities receiving DFC funding have seen significant reductions in past 30-day use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana among middle and high school students.
Rankin and Bainbridge attended three days of required meetings with grant program staff, federal partners and general coalition sessions to assist the coalition in moving their goals forward over the next five years. Information was provided by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), plus many other acclaimed speakers. Van Buren County SAFE Coalition Coordinator Bainbridge was also provided with the honor of being a speaker on the year 6 panel that presented grant information to year 1 DFC grantees.
Information about the training will be shared with all SAFE Coalition members at the December meeting. Additional trainings will be attended by various coalition members over the course of the life of the Drug Free Communities Grant. If you are interested in learning more about the SAFE Coalition, their activities or the Drug Free Communities Grant you may call their office at 319-293-6412 or via email at info@vbsafecoalition.com. They may also be found on the web at http://www.vbsafecoalition.com .
Thursday, December 2, 2010
SAFE Volunteers
Have you heard about the SAFE Coalition?
Do you know about SAFE Coalition Activities?
Are you interested in Making Van Buren County a SAFE Place to live?
The SAFE Coalition is always in need of new members, especially parents of teens! We want your input on our activities and projects. Do you think the coalition is making a difference in the community and the lives of teens? Your help is needed to be sure that we are.
The SAFE Coalition is designed to unite the communities of Van Buren County and provide information and various resources to aid in the fight against substance abuse.
By becoming a member, you will be informed of Coalition activities; have the chance to contribute ideas, suggestions, and feedback; and have opportunities to offer your own abilities to help make Van Buren County a safe place to live. Becoming a member is free and the time commitment can be as minimal as reading email updates or as much as heading up a committee, depending on your preferences.
You are encouraged to attend the Coalitions next meeting on December 14, 2010 at 2 p.m. at the Roberts Memorial Center, or check out the website at www.vbsafecoalition.com or contact the Coalition at 319-293-6412 for more information on how you can get involved!
Do you know about SAFE Coalition Activities?
Are you interested in Making Van Buren County a SAFE Place to live?
The SAFE Coalition is always in need of new members, especially parents of teens! We want your input on our activities and projects. Do you think the coalition is making a difference in the community and the lives of teens? Your help is needed to be sure that we are.
The SAFE Coalition is designed to unite the communities of Van Buren County and provide information and various resources to aid in the fight against substance abuse.
By becoming a member, you will be informed of Coalition activities; have the chance to contribute ideas, suggestions, and feedback; and have opportunities to offer your own abilities to help make Van Buren County a safe place to live. Becoming a member is free and the time commitment can be as minimal as reading email updates or as much as heading up a committee, depending on your preferences.
You are encouraged to attend the Coalitions next meeting on December 14, 2010 at 2 p.m. at the Roberts Memorial Center, or check out the website at www.vbsafecoalition.com or contact the Coalition at 319-293-6412 for more information on how you can get involved!
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