Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 7, 1 July 1988 — Total Project Budget of $148.300 [ARTICLE]

Total Project Budget of $148.300

OHA Awarded Grant for Substance Abuse Prevention

By Christine Valles Grants Management Specialist The U. S. Department of Education, under its Drug Free Schools and Community Program, has awarded the Office of Hawaiian Affairs $112,725 to fund an innovative substance abuse prevention program in joining forces with the Honolulu Poliee Department, the Castle Medical Center and the State Department of Education. OHA will match this federal money with $35,575 of its own funds for a total project budget of $148,300. The use of aleohol and drugs by Hawaiian youth is of particular eoneem to OHA because Hawaiians have higher rates of aleohol and drug abuse than most other ethnic groups. With the federal grant, OHA is now going to be able to do more than just talk about the problem. Congressman Daniel K. Akaka, who asked for approval of the funds, called the substance abuse prevention program "A novel and comprehensive approach to one of Hawai'i's most serious prob-

lems. Its goal — to eliminate substance abuse in the lives of young people — is as formidable as it is ehallenging." With this grant, OHA will reach over 8,000 adults and young people. Planning has already begun for the 15-month project scheduled to start this month. It will include these major components: 1.Parent and school personnel education. 2. Student education. 3.An intensive summer program for "at-risk" students and their families. The in-school program, conducted by staff from the Castle Medical Center's Alcoholism and Addictions Program, will take plaee in 20 schools on Windward O'ahu, Maui and Moloka'i. Sixth and eighth grade students, their parents and school personnel are the focus of the school program that teaches the most current information on smoking (tobacco and marijuana) and drug and aleohol use, combined with skill building exercises in the areas of decision making, saying no, prob!em solving and self esteem. The two-week curriculum

will move from school to school throughout the 1988-89 school year until all the targeted schools have been served. Parents and school personnel will be introduced to the program prior to its introduction to the students. Onee familiar with the topic, parents and school personnel ean work together to combat substance abuse in their school and community. In the summer of 1989, HPD officers in the DARE program will implement the third component of the program. Working with seventh and eighth grade students, the summer program will emphasize group cooperation, development of social skills to resist peer pressure, positive alternatives to substance abuse and the development of leadership skills. All these will be taught in an informal setting of rap sessions, group competition and games, field trips and a moek trial. The poliee department hopes to interest 200 seventh and eighth graders in the program. They are planning to conduct two sessions with 75 to 100 students in eaeh session.