Casco Bay Create Awareness Now (CAN) for Reducing Youth Substance Use

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

Casco Bay CAN (Create Awareness Now) Coalition in Maine was established in 2010 to serve the Casco Bay communities of Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Yarmouth, Pownal and North Yarmouth, and expanded in 2014 to include the towns of Gray and New Gloucester. Twenty-three percent of Cumberland County’s population consists of youth under the age of 18. Drug and alcohol prevention, intervention and treatment resources available to youth and their families is limited. Casco Bay CAN is a multi-sector Coalition, comprised of regional representatives from public school districts, private schools, county and local law enforcement agencies, parent groups, youth organizations, healthcare and treatment providers, faith organizations, businesses and volunteers. The Coalition is respected as an effective community asset providing planning, assessment and best practice strategies to address youth substance use. To effectuate sustainable prevention practices, the Coalition engages the community to integrate resources, and facilitates innovative collaborations to create a strong, enduring sense of unity and shared mission in the communities and region. Since its inception, youth use rates declined, community involvement and engagement has grown exponentially, creating community and intergovernmental cooperation, including an unprecedented multi-jurisdictional Law Enforcement Subcommittee (LES) whose coordinated efforts received statewide recognition for its successful anonymous tip line.