1997 S Health - UNC-Ch Community Based Public Health Initiative , Phase II

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Program Description The Orange County Coalition's Safe Communities Program is a collaborative.effort to help residents of Efland-Cheeks and Cedar Grove find ways to create safer and more healthful environments in which to live,and to promote a re-examination of law enforcement policies and procedures in rural Orange County. The Coalition and community leaders will further their collaboration with the Orange County Sheriff's Department as well as the State Bureau of Investigation,State Attorney General's Office,.and the Justice Department to develop strategies and models for changing and improving police protection and presence in.rural northern Orange County and to enhance residents' participation in community activities aimed at reducing crime and violence. The State Attorney General's Office and the N.C. Justice Department have implemented a pilot Safe Neighborhood Initiative in eight communities in North Carolina using community policing which involves police working together with people to solve community problems related to crime. In addition, the model promotes involving citizens in drug and crime prevention,youth programs, neighborhood security and clean-ups, and even volunteering at police stations. Another strategy which could be adapted to rural northern Orange County is one being used by the Metro-Dade Police Department(Florida) and fellow members of a unique public-private partnership called the Dade County Neighborhood Cellular Watch Project. This project put cellular phones-in the hands of Citizens' Crime Watchers and saw a dramatic overall decrease in neighborhood crimes. Along with the police department and crime watch group, AT&T Wireless Services made a 12-month donation of 50 cellular phones and 200 minutes of free air time per - phone each month. In addition to these programs,Peery Hills in the Cheeps township has already gained some- experience and success (three out of five known drug houses shut down)with Neighborhood.Drug Patrols based on the Charlotte,NC, "The Crusade,"which uses neighborhood patroLers to target. drug buyers with psychological warfare through their presence and that of law enforcement officers. They also take down license plate numbers,of suspected buyers and have postcards sent to them identifying their vehicles as spotted in a known drug traffic area. Another important aspect of the Rural Safe Communities Initiative is involvement of teens in these rural communities. Prevention of drug use among adolescents is a challenge every community faces even in rural areas. Not only are illicit drugs available,the youth are often isolated from alternative activities in the more populated areas of the county. Community concern about drugs and lack of activities for youth resulted in designating this as a priority area. The Teens In Power (TIP)program began in 1992 with a volunteer coordinator who was a graduate student at the LNC School of Public Health. TIP is a multifaceted drug intervention program designed to prevent and reduce illicit drug use among adolescents in northern Orange County,to improve their overall health and well-being, and to create a safe and positive environment The program provides activities for 20+teens (the majority of whom are boys) which include building self-esteem and skills in decision-making,problem-solving,.conflict resolution, and communication. It is targeted to strengthen adolescents' abilities to resist and cope with peer pressure and to increase the - accessibility of organized activities. Tbrough participation in the TIP program, adolescents develop skills that contribute to the development of personal goals and community leadership. The activities address issues of boredom,social isolation,low motivation,low self-esteem, and peer pressure. In addition, these activities increase an awareness of the benefits of education and achievement and the full range of available life choice options.