Gov. Blagojevich announces statewide town hall meetings to address underage drinking

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich and Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Secretary Carol L. Adams, Ph.D. today announced the commencement of a second series of community forums on teen alcohol use in more than 50 Illinois communities.  The forums will be held through April 4.  

 

Officially called, Underage Drinking Prevention: Town Hall Meetings, the forums are part of a national effort to increase understanding and awareness of underage drinking and its consequences, and to encourage individuals, families and communities to address the problem.

 

"Alcohol continues to be the number one drug problem in Illinois and is a serious threat to the health and safety of our young people," said Gov. Blagojevich.  "We encourage all citizens to become involved and join in the town hall meetings in their communities.  Together we can find solutions to underage drinking and help prevent the senseless tragedies associated with teen use."

 

According to IDHS statistics, more than 48,000 Illinoisans including 3,100 youth received treatment for alcohol addiction at state-funded programs last year.  More than two-thirds of Illinois teenagers report use of alcohol and one quarter of Illinois high school seniors admit they have driven a car while under influence of alcohol.  Half of all fatal automobile crashes involving teenagers are alcohol-related.    

 

These local meetings will give communities the opportunity to come together and discuss the extent and nature of the problem, discuss the latest research on underage drinking and its impact on both individuals and communities. The forums are also designed to get valuable community input on how each community implement the recommendations in The Surgeon General's Call to Action to prevent underage alcohol use.

 

 

The IDHS Division of Community Health and Prevention is organizing the 58 town hall meetings with assistance from local community leaders and substance abuse prevention experts.  The town meetings are being funded through a grant from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  All participating communities will receive a $500.00 stipend and the Community Briefing Prevention Toolkit: Town Hall Meetings and collateral DVD training on how to conduct a town hall meeting, a facilitator's guide, and informational handouts.

 

"We want to build on the results of the previous town hall meetings and be proactive in engaging youth and families as well as community members in prevention," said IDHS Secretary Carol L. Adams, Ph.D.  "Whether you are a parent, teacher, coach, retailer, clergy member or just a concerned citizen, you can help us in developing comprehensive and consistent interventions to reduce underage drinking."   

 

The mission of the DHS Division of Community Health and Prevention Office of Prevention is to promote and implement coordinated, innovative community-based prevention strategies and provide a wide range of comprehensive prevention efforts designed to prevent domestic violence; alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse; and juvenile delinquency.

 

For a list of the Illinois communities participating in the town hall meetings, visit  www.stopalcoholabuse.gov.

 

Albion              Edwards County Project Success Coalition                              

Aurora             Aurora East CUSD #311

                        Breaking Free (along with the City of Aurora)

Barrington        Barrington Area Community Drug Coalition

Beardstown      Cass County Mental Health Association for Cass County Interagency Council

Belvidere          Boone County Health Department - Boone County Drug Free Coalition

Chicago            A Knock at Midnight

                        ABJ community Services, Inc.

                        Albany Park Community Center

                        Alternatives, Inc.

                        Asian Health Coalition of Illinois

                        Bobby E. Wright Community Mental Health Center

                        Chicago Public Schools, District #299

                        Habilitative Systems, Inc.

                        Human Resource Development Institute, Inc.

                        SGA Youth and Family Services

                        South Side Help Center

                        The Miracle Center at the Gap Center

                        The Prevention Partnership, Inc.

                        Youth Outreach Services

                        Austin Town Hall

Clinton             Dewitt county Human Resource Center

Coal City          Community Cares Initiative

Danville            Vermilion Prevention Coalition

Decatur            Decatur Community Partnership

East Moline      Stark County rural mental Health Task Force

Elgin                 Elgin Drug and Gang Task Force

Eureka             Woodford County Health Department

Evanston          PEER Services

Fairfield            Southeastern Illinois Counseling Center (for WAYC-UP Coalition

Freeport           FHN JoDaviess County Alcohol and Other Substances Coalition

Galesburg         Bridgeway, Inc.

Granite City      Coordinated Youth and Human Services

Grayslake         Lake County Underage Drinking Task Force

Homewood      South Suburban Prevention Coalition

Hopkins Park   Communication Outreach Committee

Kewanee          Greater Kewanee Drug and Alcohol

Lincolnshire      Stevenson Community P.R.O.U.D.

Marion             Franklin-Williamson Human Services (Marion Partnership for Youth)

Mattoon           I Sing the Body Electric

McHenry          McHenry Area Character Counts! Coalition

Mt. Carroll       Jo-Carroll Extension - Carroll County Substance Abuse Education Coalition  

Mt. Vernon      Jefferson County Board

Murphysboro   Jackson County UI Extension Office (Murphysboro Youth and Recreation Center  

Paris                 CAMA, Inc.

Park Ridge       Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation

Paxton Ford County Coalition Against Family Violence

Pontiac             Illinois Commission on Children and Youth

Princeton          Youth Development Coalition

Quincy             Adams County Health Department

Rockford          City of Rockford Human Services Department - Drug Free Rockford

                        Martin Luther King Jr. Services Area Project

Springfield        ILCAAP for Sangamon County Coalition on Underage Drinking

Tremont           Tazewell County Health Department

Tuscola            Douglas County Health Department - Douglas County RPG     

Waukegan        Lake County Health Department 

Wilmington       Wilmington Coalition for a Healthy Community