Read about Coalition programs and call to volunteer for activities that you’re interested in!
Members of Teens Taking Action, the National Youth Leadership Academy, obtain signatures from hundreds of adults who pledge to act as responsible role models and not abuse alcohol during the holiday season.
Comprised of business and community leaders, the advisory board provides invaluable advice and direction to the Coalition. Meetings take place three times a year.
The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) hosts an Annual Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. and a coalition development workshop in August. National speakers and community coalitions present up-to-date information on substance abuse issues and successful prevention programs throughout the U.S.
The Annual Dinner is the single largest fundraising event supporting substance abuse prevention in Troy. Many businesses generously sponsor tables at the event and join together in support of the Coalition’s mission.
Presented jointly by the Coalition and Troy Police, this classroom program for 4th graders teaches responsible decision-making and behavior.
Entertainment, demonstrations, activities and a basketball competition serve to highlight the numerous non-profit organizations in the city. A collaborative effort of the Troy Activities Coordinating Team comprised of the Coalition, the City of Troy and the Troy School District.
This program targets preschoolers and young parents and focuses on healthy bodies and healthy choices.
Coalition staff and Troy Police Department make joint presentations to driver’s education classes reinforcing the importance of zero tolerance laws in Michigan.
Simple, accurate, low cost home drug test kits are available at the Coalition office. Single use alcohol or marijuana kits are $5. The 4-panel combo test for multiple narcotics including marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy and methamphetamines is $20.
Faith, business and community leaders come together at this annual May event to promote an understanding and awareness of cultural diversity in Troy.
A Day to Eat Dinner with your Children – is a national effort to promote family dinners as an effective way to reduce substance abuse among children and teens. Research by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) finds that the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use illegal drugs. Family Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Monday in September.
The Coalition brings nationally known speakers to Troy to address students and community about existing and emerging issues in substance abuse prevention.
Children in elementary school are nominated by friends, family or neighbors for going “above and beyond” in their helpfulness towards others and positive attitude. The children are recognized and receive awards at a monthly Coalition meeting.
Live music, swimming, volleyball, prizes and refreshments are provided at this alcohol, tobacco and drug-free event for teens held Friday nights in the summer. Each year Jam Fest draws increasing numbers of teens from Troy, Clawson and Birmingham.
The Coalition provides support to the committee that hosts a special celebration at Athens High School to honor the memory of Martin Luther King and to reflect on his message of unity and peace.
This grant from the federal government allows the Coalition to provide consultation, guidance and support to two coalitions in Oakland County, helping them to build their capacity to reduce substance abuse in more local communities.
The Coalition is promoting a Faith Based Training Conference sponsored by NACOA in January and works on an on-going basis to support NACOA programs.
is an annual campaign during Prom and Graduation season, conducted in partnership with 14 other Oakland Substance Abuse Prevention Coalitions and the Oakland County Health Department. The public awareness campaign is designed to educate parents about the dangers and legal consequences of serving alcohol to teens.
The Coalition’s electronic newsletter reaches subscribers in Troy on a monthly basis. It contains information on recent developments in substance abuse prevention and current Coalition prevention programs and activities.
A weekend is set aside where all church services contain a prevention message either in the sermon or in the church bulletin. The purpose is to emphasize how important prevention is to maintaining a healthy spiritual community.
An overnight retreat for volunteers and staff and a half-day retreat for staff provide a means to become more connected in our efforts to bring a voice to substance abuse prevention in Troy.
The neighborhood problem-solving partnership with the Troy Police Department provides summer skill building, recreation and field trips to the children who reside at the Rochester Villas apartment complex.
Local businesses are offering special programs and discounts to high school students in Troy to promote a safe and fun Spring Break.
Teens and Troy Coalition Staff conduct an FDA compliance check of Troy retail outlets to determine whether they are selling tobacco products to underage youth. Close to 90% of retail outlets in Troy are in compliance, well above the minimum allowable (80%) by federal standards before federal funding to the County is impacted.
An anti-tobacco program for fifth graders is presented by Michigan Oncology Nursing Society volunteers and Troy Beaumont Doctors; and is scheduled with Troy Schools by the Coalition staff.
A high school program which trains youth to be leaders and take initiatives on substance abuse prevention with their peer group. Leadership training includes a course on Sean Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” and on a Ropes Camp program in Hershey, MI. The teens meet on a regular basis and often go to other high schools to train their peers on the 7 Habits.
The Coalition offers training and materials to help prevent teens and adults from smoking and offered a series of classes to help smokers successful stop smoking.
The Coalition participates in the annual city fair by distributing prevention literature and giving away small items containing substance abuse prevention messages.
The Community Bowling Center, Troy School District and Troy Coalition work together to recognize middle and high school students who have overcome a major obstacle or personal challenge and are now on a positive course in life.
ArvinMeritor generously hosts a special dinner in December to thank our dedicated and committed volunteers who make the Coalition programs possible. Each volunteer receives a gift and is recognized for his or her unique contribution to the Coalition. Many Coalition volunteers are also recognized at the Leadership Troy banquet in October.
A half-day program designed to increase communication between youth and adults through a focus group format. Prompted by a moderator, high school students speak about the issues and concerns that affect their young lives. Community, school and business leaders listen. Follow-up to Dialog Day is coordinated by the Coalition and involves targeting specific community action to address identified issues and concerns.
Sustaining and growing the Coalition through grant awards, fundraising efforts, sponsorships, in-kind support, new programs and other initiatives brings resources for operating a non-profit organization in Troy. Support from multiple sectors of the community provides the base from which the Coalition seeks outside funding.
In 1994, the Troy Coalition served as the lead agency from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties organize and plan statewide meetings and training to educate coalition and community members on the latest findings and trends in substance abuse and prevention strategies. Today the ACHC includes a total of 15 coalitions in Oakland County.
Constant vigilance is required to stay abreast of issues and initiatives affecting the legalization of drugs. The former Committee to Prevent the Legalization of Marijuana is an example of a statewide effort to develop a strategy to present the opposing side of the legalization issue.
Under the direction of Coalition executive board member Judge Dennis Drury, the Drug Therapy Court meets every Thursday to closely monitor the progress of drug offenders in the program. The first Drug Therapy Court graduation in July 2002 honored those who successfully completed the program. A second graduation took place in October 2002. Coalition members provide gift certificates and other incentives to reward participants for their efforts to be drug-free.
The Coalition competes for Federal, State and County grants as well as local corporate and community foundation funding opportunities. The competitive grant proposal and reporting process is rigorous and time-consuming. The Coalition has achieved success at all funding levels and will continue to compete annually for grant awards.
Evaluation is an ongoing process under the direction of TEST, INC. principals Kathleen Zimmerman-Oster, Ph.D. and Jim O’Neill, Ph.D. A monitoring sub-committee has been established to gather information from the Troy Police Department, area hospitals and key leaders in the community. The Troy School District Bi-Annual Survey of Student Attitudes on Alcohol and Drug Use serves as a longitudinal research base for directing prevention programs and activities in Troy.
Through newspaper, radio, video, print literature or telephone conversations, the Coalition constantly provides information to the public. For example, the brochure on Marijuana - “The Myths and Reality,” developed by the Coalition and the Troy Police Department provides parents, youth and community members with latest scientific information on marijuana.
The Coalition frequently provides the names of local counseling and treatment resources and services to parents, youth and anyone else who calls in requesting such information.
Prevention messages on napkins, on coat hangars or in print ad are examples of spreading the prevention message through the general public using social marketing techniques.
Working with John Logan to keep our web site timely and informative is a high priority for the Coalition.
Call us at (248) 823-5088 to volunteer for activities that you’re interested in!