Mendocino County: SIG Profile

1. Age Range 12-25

2. Communities / County wide, but focusing on major population centers of Fort Bragg, Ukiah, Willits Populations of Focus

3. CP Members Mendocino County Agencies: AODP, DSS, Probation, OE, Adult Education; Mendocino County WIB Youth Council; Law enforcement bodies; Education representatives: colleges, high schools; Community members 4. CP Activities Phase 1 a. Provided guidance in implementation of the work plan b. Participated in individual interviews with the STAT Planner c. Participated in a survey to assess training needs of workgroup members d. Reviewed and provided feedback on the Needs and Resource Assessment e. Reviewed and provided feedback on Prevention Plan

5. CP Activities Phase 2 a. Advisory role during STAT project implementation.

6. Data Sources • Student Survey (2004) • Fort Bragg Unified School District, Healthy Kids Survey (Fall 2003) • Willits Unified School District, California Healthy Kids Survey (Fall 2003) • Ukiah Unified School District, California Healthy Kids Survey (Fall 2003) • Louis Harris and Associates (Mendocino County poll, 2000) • Mendocino County Office of Education, Court and Community Schools • Mendocino Private Industry Council Workforce Investment Board, Youth Council/Youth Philanthropy Board survey of Willits High School students • Mendocino County Comprehensive Development Strategy (2004) • California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs • California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control • California Department of Education • California Department of Finance • California Department of Health Services • California Department of Justice • California Health and Welfare Agency • California Health Kids Survey (2003) 1 Mendocino County SIG Profile March, 2006 Mendocino County: SIG Profile

• Center for Latino Health and Culture, UCLA School of Medicine • National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (2004) • STAT Survey (2005) • STAT Key Informant Interviews • STAT “Last Drink Survey” (2005)

7. Key Findings a. Rates of binge drinking and other indicators of alcohol use among the target population of youth are higher in all areas of Mendocino County than in most other counties in California as a whole. b. There is a widespread “culture of acceptance” of alcohol and other drug use in Mendocino County: STAT findings show parent and other adult complicity in youth access to alcohol. c. Resources to address youth substance abuse in Mendocino County are rich and varied, which bodes well for any STAT implementation strategies requiring a multi-agency approach.

8. Model Program Project Success (individually-focused program) Selected

9. Prevention Strategies 1. Project Success, which will be implemented in Ft. Bragg; 2. Countywide media campaign targeting parents and adults; 3. School and community-based policy initiatives will be undertaken as appropriate and in conjunction with the above implementation strategies.

10. Expected Outcomes • Status of implementation of primary and secondary strategies • Number of youth participating in/completing the program • 10% decrease in reported binge drinking by project participants • 10% increase in utilization of refusal skills • 10% increase in utilization of harm reduction strategies • Types of media strategies implemented • Estimated number of parents reached through media strategies • Percentage of parents reporting increased knowledge • Percentage of parents reporting decreased complicity

2 Mendocino County SIG Profile March, 2006