 Officially called "Underage Drinking Prevention: Town Hall
Meetings," the forums are part of a national effort to increase
understanding and awareness of underage drinking and its
consequences, and to encourage individuals, families and communities
to address the problem.
"Alcohol continues to be the number one drug problem in Illinois
and is a serious threat to the health and safety of our young
people," said Blagojevich. "We encourage all citizens to become
involved and join in the town hall meetings in their communities.
Together we can find solutions to underage drinking and help prevent
the senseless tragedies associated with teen use."
According to statistics from the Illinois Department of Human
Services, more than 48,000 Illinoisans, including 3,100 youths,
received treatment for alcohol addiction last year through
state-funded programs. More than two-thirds of Illinois teenagers
report use of alcohol, and one-quarter of Illinois high school
seniors admit they have driven a car while under influence of
alcohol. Half of all fatal automobile crashes involving teenagers
are alcohol-related.
The forums will give communities the opportunity to come together
and discuss the extent and nature of the problem, the latest
research on underage drinking, and its effects on both individuals
and communities. The meetings are also designed to get valuable
community input on how each community implements the recommendations
in "The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce
Underage Drinking."
The IDHS Division of Community Health and Prevention is
organizing the 58 town hall meetings with assistance from local
community leaders and substance abuse prevention experts. The town
meetings are being funded through a grant from the Substance Abuse
Mental Health Services Administration. All participating communities
will receive a $500 stipend and the "Community Briefing Prevention
Toolkit: Town Hall Meetings" and collateral DVD training on how to
conduct a town hall meeting, a facilitator's guide and informational
handouts.
"We want to build on the results of the previous town hall
meetings and be proactive in engaging youth and families, as well as
community members, in prevention," said Adams. "Whether you are a
parent, teacher, coach, retailer, clergy member or just a concerned
citizen, you can help us in developing comprehensive and consistent
interventions to reduce underage drinking."
The mission of the DHS Division of Community Health and
Prevention Office of Prevention is to promote and implement
coordinated, innovative, community-based prevention strategies and
provide a wide range of comprehensive prevention efforts designed to
prevent domestic violence; alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse;
and juvenile delinquency.
For a list of the Illinois communities participating in the town
hall meetings, visit
www.stopalcoholabuse.gov.
Albion -- Edwards County Project Success Coalition
Aurora -- Aurora East CUSD 311, Breaking Free (along with the
city of Aurora)
Barrington -- Barrington Area Community Drug Coalition
Beardstown -- Cass County Mental Health Association for Cass
County Interagency Council
Belvidere -- Boone County Health Department, Boone County Drug
Free Coalition
Chicago -- A Knock at Midnight, ABJ Community Services, Albany
Park Community Center, Alternatives Inc., Asian Health Coalition of
Illinois, Bobby E. Wright Community Mental Health Center, Chicago
Public Schools District 299, Habilitative Systems Inc., Human
Resource Development Institute Inc., SGA Youth and Family Services,
South Side Help Center, The Miracle Center at the Gap Center, The
Prevention Partnership Inc., Youth Outreach Services, Austin Town
Hall
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Clinton -- DeWitt County Human Resource Center
Coal City -- Community Cares Initiative
Danville -- Vermilion Prevention Coalition
Decatur -- Decatur Community Partnership
East Moline -- Stark County Rural Mental Health Task Force
Elgin -- Elgin Drug and Gang Task Force
Eureka -- Woodford County Health Department
Evanston -- PEER Services
Fairfield -- Southeastern Illinois Counseling Center (for WAYC-UP
Coalition)
Freeport -- FHN Jo Daviess County Alcohol and Other Substances
Coalition
Galesburg -- Bridgeway Inc.
Granite City -- Coordinated Youth and Human Services
Grayslake -- Lake County Underage Drinking Task Force
Homewood -- South Suburban Prevention Coalition
Hopkins Park -- Communication Outreach Committee
Kewanee -- Greater Kewanee Drug and Alcohol
Lincolnshire -- Stevenson Community P.R.O.U.D.
Marion -- Franklin-Williamson Human Services (Marion Partnership
for Youth)
Mattoon -- I Sing the Body Electric
McHenry -- McHenry Area Character Counts! Coalition
Mount Carroll -- Jo-Carroll Extension, Carroll County Substance
Abuse Education Coalition
Mount Vernon -- Jefferson County Board
Murphysboro -- Jackson County UI Extension Office (Murphysboro
Youth and Recreation Center)
Paris -- CAMA Inc.
Park Ridge -- Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation
Paxton -- Ford County Coalition Against Family Violence
Pontiac -- Illinois Commission on Children and Youth
Princeton -- Youth Development Coalition
Quincy -- Adams County Health Department
Rockford -- City of Rockford Human Services Department, Drug Free
Rockford, Martin Luther King Jr. Services Area Project
Springfield -- ILCAAP for Sangamon County Coalition on Underage
Drinking
Tremont -- Tazewell County Health Department
Tuscola -- Douglas County Health Department, Douglas County RPG
Waukegan -- Lake County Health Department
Wilmington -- Wilmington Coalition for a Healthy Community
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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