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The Alcohol-Related   Traffic Crash 
Reduction Project 
Strategic Prevention Framework Grant 

Regional Project to Reduce Alcohol-Related
Traffic Crashes and Underage Drinking:
Lakeshore Coordinating Council is working to coordinate a regional
effort to reduce alcohol-related traffic crashes and underage
drinking through partnership with task forces in Allegan, Berrien,
Muskegon and Ottawa Counties. These task forces are made
up of partnerships including law enforcement, prevention professionals, and community leaders.
Efforts include education, enforcement and
community awareness.  
Background Information
Lakeshore Coordinating Council convened the Lakeshore Prevention Collaborative (LPC) to develop an initiative to reduce alcohol-related traffic crashes as a part of the state-wide Strategic Prevention Framework/State Incentive Grant (SPF/SIG).  The Michigan Department of Community Health/Office of Drug Control Policy (MDCH/ODCP) received a five-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA/CSAP) totaling approx. $11.8 mil. ($2.4 mil. annually) to implement the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) process in Michigan.
 
The SPF/SIG grant is designed to provide an opportunity for Michigan to practice and integrate the Strategic Prevention Framework into Michigan’s prevention system. The SPF requires States and communities to systematically:
    1. Assess their prevention needs based on epidemiological data, 
    2. Build their prevention capacity,
    3. Develop a strategic plan,
    4. Implement effective community prevention programs, policies, practices, and
    5. Evaluate their efforts for outcomes.

During step 1 of the SPF process,  Michigan conducted a thorough epidemiological review of the burden of substance use in the state of Michigan and determined that the priority to address as a state is Alcohol-Related Traffic Crash fatalities.  

The LPC came together in September of 2007 to conduct a Needs Assessment and to develop a Strategic Plan to  address alcohol-related traffic crash fatalities and underage drinking in our region.  Through partnership with task forces in each county, a coordinated effort at the regional and county levels to reduce Alcohol Related Traffic Crash fatalities will be implemented.

Evidence Based Strategies
Efforts funded through the Lakeshore Prevention Collaborative SPF grant are required to be documented as effective. This requirement must be met on two levels: 
  1. Comprehensive Plan: A comprehensive approach that incorporates strategies, practices and programs that have been shown to be mutually reinforcing and documented to lead to a reduction in alcohol related traffic crash fatalities; and
  2. Specific Activities: Specific programs, practices, and strategies selected to be incorporated into the comprehensive plan must each be individually documented as effective.
The Lakeshore Prevention Collaborative has worked to define and summarize the research available to assist communities in decision making.  This summary is available in the document titled, "Alcohol Related Traffic Crash Fatality Reduction Project - Evidence of Effectiveness Guidance".  Additional research sources and effective strategies will be added to this document as they are identified over the course of the project.  
 
Data Reports
 
County Level Summary Reports provide information regarding the number/rate of alcohol related traffic crashes, where and when they took place, information about the persons involved, related information from the county youth surveys, and community readiness information.
Local Efforts
For more information about activities and efforts in your community, the local dinated by the following task forces:
  • Allegan Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition
    For more information contact Heidi Denton 
       
  • Berrien Alcohol Task Force
    For more information contact Nate Hill 
     
  • Coalition for a Drug-Free Muskegon
    For more information contact Laura Fitzpatrick
        
  • Communities Helping Ottawa Obtain a Safe Environment (CHOOSE)
    For more information contact Stephanie VanDerKooi