White Plains Cares Coalition Strategic Plan
The White Plains Cares Coalition Strategic Plan was developed utilizing the Strategic Prevention Framework. Continued assessment of community needs utilizing concrete data and community feedback, building capacity to plan and implement plans, and continually evaluating the impact of the coalition’s work, are all reflected in the strategic plan. The White Plains Cares Coalition’s commitment to having community-wide impact is reflected in the development of a strategic plan that addresses each of the seven environmental strategies:
Providing Information: Educational presentations, workshops or seminars, and data or media presentations (e.g., public service announcements, brochures, billboard campaigns, community meetings, town halls, forums, Web-based communication).
The White Plains Cares Coalition will continue to provide timely and accurate information about illicit and prescription substance use and misuse. Such communication will also provide culturally competent information about the effect and impact of the use/ misuse of illicit and prescription substances. Maintaining timely and continued contact with the community about relevant issues will further enhance the visibility and community connectedness of the coalition, thus increasing community support for the coalition’s activities.
Enhancing Skills: Workshops, seminars or activities designed to increase the skills of participants, members and staff (e.g., training, technical assistance, distance learning, strategic planning retreats, parenting classes, model programs in schools).
The White Plains Cares Coalition will continue to provide training and education for coalition members and community groups. Such training will serve to build capacity, further strengthening the coalition. Rapidly changing demographics in White Plains demands a culturally sensitive approach when dealing with community issues. Continued training and education combined with a coalition membership that reflects the demographics of the community, will help to maintain and enhance such sensitivity among coalition members and community groups. This will, in turn, lend legitimacy to coalition messages and increase their effectiveness.
Providing Support: Creating opportunities to support people to participate in activities that reduce risk or enhance protection (e.g., providing alternative activities, mentoring, referrals for services, support groups, youth clubs, parenting groups, Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous).
The White Plains Cares Coalition has established a strong partnership with Law Enforcement and the School District. The establishment of the first White Plains Youth Court is a testimony to this cooperation. The White Plains Cares Coalition will continue to support the implementation of the Youth Court thereby impacting youth crime rates in White Plains. The presence of a prevention services coordinator at the White Plains Middle Schools is another important source of support for youth and families. Maintaining this supportive presence will serve to further strengthen the school – coalition partnership.
Reduce Access/Enhance Barriers:Establish barriers to underage drinking or other illegal drug use to decrease accessibility. Improving systems and processes to increase the ease, ability and opportunity to utilize systems and services.
The White Plains Cares Coalition will continue to monitor the level of access to alcohol and other illicit substances to youth through regular community scans and maintaining a close working relationship contact with local Law Enforcement. Involving youth in such activities will be key to developing effective strategies to reduce access. The Coalition will continue to work with and support local Law Enforcement efforts for implementing regular compliance checks and alcohol beverage server trainings. The White Plains Cares Coalition will also continue to utilize data from community assessments to advocate with partner organizations from various sectors (like local hospitals and youth serving agencies) to provide services that are easily accessible to all members of the community. Finally, the coalition will continue to advocate for and work towards supporting the provision of safe places for youth to go during after school hours that will bridge the gap between school and home. The White Plains Cares Coalition will also continue to support the efforts of local Law Enforcement agencies to reduce access by providing safe ways to dispose of prescription drugs.
Changing Consequences: Increasing or decreasing the probability of a specific behavior that reduces risk or enhances protection by altering the consequences for performing that behavior (e.g., increasing public recognition for deserved behavior, individual and business rewards, taxes, citations, fines, revocations/loss of privileges).
The establishment of the Youth Court in White Plains will provide youth with positive alternatives to redeem themselves for negative experimental behaviors. The White Plains Cares Coalition will continue to advocate for and support the implementation of this Youth Court in the community. Additionally, the coalition will work with the City, Schools, and local businesses to recognize youth and families who embrace and embody the principles of positive youth development and provide opportunities for participating in activities that are founded on such principles.
Change Physical Design: Changing the physical design or structure of the environment to reduce risk or enhance protection (e.g., parks, landscapes, signage, lighting, outlet density).
The White Plains Cares Coalition will continue to work with organizations, local government, Law Enforcement agencies, and businesses to ensure safe and smoke free parks and playgrounds. The coalition will also continue to advocate for increased number of places for teen to gather and socialize without the presence of alcoholic beverages.
Modify/change policy: Formal change in written procedures, by-laws, proclamations, rules or laws with written documentation and/or voting procedures (e.g., workplace initiatives, law enforcement procedures and practices, public policy actions, systems change within government, communities and organizations).
The White Plains Cares Coalition will continue to monitor the laws and policies related to underage alcohol and drug use in schools and the community. The coalition will also maintain regular contact with local, state and federal agencies to monitor policies and laws that impact community-wide issues related to alcohol and drug use.
The White Plains Cares Coalition will develop annual goals, strategies, and work plan based on the above strategic plan utilizing data and community feedback. Youth data will be collected bi-annually utilizing the Prevention Needs Assessment Survey. Archival data pertaining to youth crime in White Plains will be collected from partnerships with local Law Enforcement Agencies. Youth health and educational outcomes data will be collected from local health organizations and school district. A formal data collection procedure and plan for dissemination will be developed keeping in mind changing community dynamics and partnerships.