United Way awards $77,000 to fight substance abuse

    As part of its new Substance Abuse Initiative, the United Way of Aroostook recently awarded over $77,000 to local programs that address substance abuse problems in the county. The awards, announced at the United Way’s Aroostook Idol finale in Caribou, address substance abuse education, prevention, law enforcement, and treatment.     The Substance Abuse Initiative was the direct result of a Community Needs Assessment undertaken by the organization in 2006. As part of this assessment, 12 focus groups were created, and individuals throughout Aroostook County were surveyed to determine what they felt were the most pressing needs facing local residents. Based on the results, the United Way board of directors determined that substance abuse was an issue that concerned people in all areas of Aroostook County, and one that had previously received little funding from the organization.
    “The United Way of America is really moving from being strictly a fund-raising and fund distribution organization, to one that looks for areas of unmet need and then finding ways to positively impact them,” said United Way Executive Director Claudia Stevens. “Our community assessment recognized substance abuse as one issue that concerned those in all areas of the county, and the United Way of Aroostook looked for a way to address that need.”
    As a result of this assessment, the board of directors voted to set aside $77,000 for funding to combat substance abuse.
    “This is really a new initiative for us,” said Brian Sipe, board president. “We are pleased we will be awarding these funds in addition to the funds traditionally awarded to area social service agencies through our annual funding process. These are new monies that will need to be raised this year to expand our reach beyond what we have done in the past.”
    In announcing the awards, Sipe and Campaign Chairman Mike McPherson recognized six programs being undertaken by five area organizations that successfully applied for funds earmarked for the Substance Abuse Initiative.
    • $7,000 to Cary Medical Center and the Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative for ASAP: Prevention Through Media Project. ASAP will work with a number of local agencies to develop and implement a public marketing campaign to increase youth and parent perceptions of the risks of substance abuse, and to increase the use of parenting practices that are proven to help prevent substance abuse.
    • $3,500 to the Madawaska School Department for its Bullying Prevention Program, which will work to reduce and prevent bulling in the Madawaska School System by helping staff be consistent in recognizing bullying, providing consequences to those who bully, supporting those who are victims, and empowering bystanders.
    • $5,500 to the Aroostook County Action Program and the Healthy Maine Partnership for Education and Options – Drinking on College Campuses. The program will work with local colleges and Health First Centers to decrease alcohol abuse among young adults by training resident assistants at the dorms, providing education resources, and by sponsoring chemical-free events.
    • $9,805 to the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office for a Canine Drug Detection Team. The funds will be used to purchase a drug detection canine and to supply training and support to both the dog and the handler. The canine will be the first in the county to be trained specifically to detect methamphetamines and the dog and handler will be available for use by the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department and by other law local enforcement agencies throughout the county.
• $47,266 to Aroostook Mental Health Center for Opiate Enhanced Case Management Services. These funds will be used to provide opiate replacement therapy and mental health and substance abuse counseling and support to county residents who are addicted to opiates, and will assist these individuals as they work to recover their lives.
    • $4,000 to Aroostook Mental Health Services for ATLC: The Aroostook Teen Leadership Camp. This summer camp is designed to provide Aroostook County students in grades seven and eight with the tools they need to abstain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other illegal drugs, by making them aware of the dangers of drug use and association with those who use alcohol and drugs, by encouraging positive attitudes about not using these substances, and by providing healthy alternatives to substance abuse by adolescents.
    For additional information on the Substance Abuse Initiative and how you can donate funds, contact Claudia Stevens, United Way of Aroostook, 480 Main St., 4th Floor, Presque Isle, Maine 04769 or at 764-5197.