Welcome to the website for Columbia County Connects.Columbia County Coalition members are from school districts, law enforcement, UW-Extension, faith community, media, health care, tobacco coalition, human services, parents and youth.CESA (Cooperative Educational Service Agency) #5 is the fiscal agent for the coalition and employs five staff to assist the efforts of the coalition.We currently work with the following school districts: Cambria-Friesland, Columbus, Fall River, Lodi, Pardeeville, Portage, Poynette, Randolph, Rio, and Wisconsin Dells.Funding is provided through grants from Health and Human Services, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), and Drug-Free Communities Support grant (federal).
Columbia County Connects has been funded for an additional 5 years through a Drug-Free Communities grant.The grant will not only continue to fund present programs, but will also fund an expansion of the Community Action Teams (CATs).The hope is to sustain a CAT Team in 2 communities in the coming year to help mobilize change regarding alcohol and drugs.Columbia County communities are welcome to apply.
The Coalition has 4 primary programs to reduce alcohol use by youth:
- Youth Leadership through community service
- School Curriculum (Project Northland)
- Parent/Community Action Teams
- Public Awareness Campaigns to change community attitudes toward youth alcohol use
Columbia County Connects has been documenting their efforts since 2001 and has seen some important changes.
- 16% reduction in the number of 11th graders who reported driving a car while drinking (25% in 2001 to 21% in 2003)
- 19% reduction in the number of students who used alcohol in the last month (37% to 30%)
- 32% increase in the number of students who report that youth are valued as resources (from 19% to 25%)
- 17% increase in the number of students who believe that school is a caring and encouraging environment (from 23% to 27%)
The Coalition has incorporated the youth surveys into their evaluation to assess any impact.The federal funding has made it possible to support the Coalition as well as to evaluate its efforts.
Columbia County Connects is a member of CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America).CADCA's mission is to create and strengthen the capacity of new and existing coalitions to build safe, healthy and drug-free communities.CADCA membership supports the following:
- Public Policy initiatives, funding and technical assistance opportunities in the substance abuse prevention and treatment field
- Local solutions to substance abuse and violence
- Collaborative partnerships for continued research, training and education in the substance abuse and treatment field
- CADCA's National Leadership Forum and Mid-Year Training Institute
As part of the membership, Columbia County Connects is entitled to:
- Legislative Updates to keep members involved in time sensitive legislative issues
- Coalitions Online-weekly updates providing information, funding opportunities and other critical information important to the prevention of substance abuse
- Subscription to the Strategizer series-training publications that offer concise proven solutions to issues facing prevention professionals
- Subscription to Practical Theorist series-publications summarizing scientific research finding in easy-to-understand terms
- National Leadership Forum (largest conference of prevention professionals) discounts
- Mid Year Training Institute discounts
- CADCA publications discounts
- Members-Only link on CADCA web page
Quarterly newsletter-Coalitions - Training and Technical Assistance at reduced or no cost
- Access to branding materials including PSAs