CENTER FOCUSES ON DRUG, ALCOHOL PREVENTION

The earliest prevention of drug and alcohol abuse has become the focus of a majority of community action teams across the state.

But locating the resources to fund programs or disseminate information to the public can be a problem.

That is why the Division of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, within the state Department of Mental Health, made available grant money for resource centers throughout the state.

It is from these centers that Community 2000 action teams and other preventative organizations can draw information.

Cape Girardeau was the recipient of one such grant. Three professors from Southeast Missouri State University, and Donna Boardman, a community traffic safety representative from the Cape Girardeau Police Department, wrote and was awarded the 3-year, $187,000 grant.

After receiving the grant, Boardman left her position at the police department and joined forces with Abbie Crites, a recent university graduate, to serve as community prevention specialists for this region of the state. The two moved into an office in the Parker Building at the university Jan. 9.

"Instead of having all that information spread out, it is our job to pull it together and let area teams know about the services and grant money available to them," said Crites. "We're taking the comprehensive approach to the whole issue of drug and alcohol abuse prevention."

Boardman and Crites will be conducting a "needs assessment" of area Community 2000 project teams in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Fredericktown, a project they hope to have completed by early summer.

"We're trying to figure out where we fit in," said Boardman. "We are not here to direct the teams' efforts, to take over or to tell anyone what to do; we are here to assist the teams in any way we can, to plug into their needs."

Although Community 2000 teams have been around since 1987, the resource centers are a brand new idea. They are so new that Boardman and Crites were called upon by state officials to help develop some guidelines for other centers.

"The Department of Mental Health is accustomed to treatment programs and reactive measures," said Boardman. "For a long time, the community action teams in this area have focused largely on substance abuse prevention.

"That is part of the reason I wanted in on writing the grant," she said. "This is like nothing else we've ever done before. The resource centers may be able to change the way people approach substance abuse prevention and treatment."

The resource center is not only at the disposal of the Community 2000 teams, but also the community at large.

"A lot of people don't know we're here yet," said Boardman. "We are still in the process of getting organized, but we would encourage anyone who needs help developing an idea or program to call upon us."

In the next few weeks the resource center will hook into the computer HandsNet information network, which lists information, grants and other resources available from thousands of agencies throughout the state.

"That alone will be a tremendous resource for all of us," said Crites. "You would be amazed at how much money is out there for programs, that no one knows about."

The opening of the office at Southeast Missouri State University marks the first support center housed by a public university in Missouri.

"There are treatment programs at other universities, but not regional support centers like this one," said Crites. "Having this center at the university also allows us to draw from its vast resources."

Crites said the center has seen a great deal of success in its first two months of operation.

"The response from the teams has been very positive," she said. "The teams are excited to see the kinds of things which are available to them and their efforts."

Boardman added, "We hope that this is going to be a neat opportunity for everyone in this field."