Compliance checks
Alcohol and tobacco compliance checks help ensure laws established to prevent sales to minors are followed. Compliance checks reinforce to licensed sellers the importance of verifying age identification. The MTF provides press releases, awards recognition to those who pass, makes connections with possible underage volunteer buyers, and provides education regarding the value of compliance checks.
Alcohol Sales Procedure & Policy
In conjunction with support for compliance checks, the Task Force researches policy and recommends change, if needed. Areas of interest are: licensing issues, training requirements for alcohol servers and sales staff, and consequential follow-through for those charged with selling alcohol to minors.
Two new projects to reach young adults are in the planning stages. For those ages 18-20, information will be provided regarding how alcohol laws for adults now pertain to them. For those turning age 21, education regarding legal responsibilities for alcohol use, buying for minors, driving under the influence, and more.
Medication Disposal Campaign
The Mayor’s Task Force, with the collaboration of others, is developing a safe and environmentally responsible collection and disposal system for un-needed presription drugs and other controlled substances.
Plans are underway for two permanent medication drop-off locations-one in Northfield and the other in Faribault. County-wide events to bring attention to this campaign are targeted for early fall. In the meantime, an extensive community education plan regarding the importance of controlling access and misuse of medications and other drugs is being developed to lead the effort. Many community partners will be involved to help address the Medication Disposal Campaign.
Positive Community Norms Campaign
The “MOST Northfield Students” campaign highlights the differences between the reality and perception of student behaviors. MTF survey data indicates students often over-predict the percentage of their peers who engage in risky behaviors. Our goal is to correct student misperceptions regarding their peers’ drug and alcohol use. Our goal is to correct student misperceptions, which helps to reduce youth drug and alcohol use, and provides support for students recovering from addiction.
Task Force Members, in partnership with high school staff, are running a high-energy, thought-provoking campaign. Messages and images are pilot-tested with youth, with a new “message” introduced every three weeks by way of posters, T-shirts, promotional items, and other activities. About half of the campaign messages relate directly to drug and alcohol use. The rest of the messages highlight positive protective factors that are vital to a healthy community for our youth.
Next steps include reaching middle school students, parents, and the greater community. A similar process will be used to evaluate our surveys and data, reach out to our partners, utilize specific and effective concepts, and roll out an on-going and in-depth outreach campaign.
Buprenorphine Advocacy
The Mayor’s Task Force has worked to help advocate for and support the presence of a physician licensed to administer Buprenorphine in the community. This medication is effective in helping those trying to stop using heroin and opionds.
Identifying Needs & Services
By gathering survey and evaluation data, the MTF remains responsive to prevention and intervention needs of youth and families. Yearly surveys of youth help us to know and address alcohol and drug problems. Survey data from community members and parents also provide valuable direction.
Youth Input
In addition to the youth surveys, the Task Force turns to young people for direction and guidance through focus group participation. Twelve focus groups have given direction to a youth outreach campaign. We partner with the Northfield Union of Youth and others in generating creative solutions for reducing youth substance use.
Communication
MTF communication efforts help inform and educate our community on many levels. Over 20 monthly newspaper columns have been published. Web sites, radio spots, displays, mailings, public speaking engagements, newsletters, and more are used regularly to communicate our message. Productive relationships have been built with communications partners including the local media.
Talking Points Campaign
Talking Points offer parents ways to connect with their children and each other. Coffee shops provide opportunities for customers to try out a Mayor’s Task Force-designed Conversation Starter Kit. A give-away product, developed from the kit, has questions in English and Spanish to use in triggering conversations with kids.
Young Adult Support
A very vulnerable time for some Northfield young adults appears to be the transition period from ages of 18-25. In the last 18 months, almost all of the young people who died of a drug overdose or who have been arrested for the sales of narcotics have been from this age group. Task Force member’s initial effort with this issue is to identify the strengths and the vulnerabilities of those experiencing difficulty, and to research existing efforts and program models. Some areas of concern include: availability of resources, mental health issues, support systems, and employment opportunities.
Court Monitoring
The MTF engages in on-going court monitoring to reinforce the serious legal consequences for adults who provide alcohol to youth. Other drug-related cases are also monitored. MTF members address the court by reading a victim impact statement about the effects of these crimes on the community. Member’s reach out and offer support to the families of both victims and offenders.
Targeted Parent Mailings
The Task Force distributes on-going mailings to encourage and support parents as they help their children make healthy choices. Postcards and letters are mailed for special events such as prom, graduation, and school breaks.
Prom Cards from Children
For three years, Project SIGHT and the MTF have worked with elementary students to create special “Prom Cards.” The cards are gentle reminders that high school students are important role-models for young children who care about them and watch them closely. Prom Cards are distributed to hair salons, florists, and others to be given to their prom-going clients.
