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The Breckinridge County Coalition for Change

Breckinridge County, Kentucky is located on the Ohio River between Meade and Daviess Counties and has the distinction of having the longest name of Kentucky’s 120 counties. Locally, it is often referred to as Breck. County. Breck. County has a population of 18,648 people in a land area of 572.41 square miles. There is an average of only 32.6 people per square mile and plenty of land for an agricultural economic basis that relies heavily on tobacco crops.

In 2002 community members began organizing the formation of a community coalition that would serve Breck. Co. by addressing Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD). With consultation from Communicare Regional Prevention Center, the coalition began its initial stages of operation by recruiting members for the coalition. From the beginning, the newly formed Breck. Co. Champions coalition has had membership from Hardinsburg City Police, Cloverport Independent Schools, Breckinridge Co. Schools, Family Resource Youth Services Centers, Kentucky State Police, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Treatment, Breck. Co. Health Dept., Regional Prevention Center, McDonalds representatives, Cloverport City Police, Department of Community Based Services, local youth, The Breck Co. Herald News and the Ministerial Association. Since the first meeting in 2002, the coalition has grown and formally expanded their mission and is now called the Breckinridge County Coalition for Change and adopted the slogan Watching Over Our Community. Utilizing state Champions funding, the coalition has implemented alcohol, tobacco and other drug evidence-based preventions strategies in the schools and community.

The school systems in Breckinridge County rely heavily on the Breck. Co. coalition for support in implementing evidence-based ATOD curricula. The coalition has supported the training of teachers and staff for curricula implementation as well as assisted in purchasing program materials.

Youth involvement is an integral part of the Breck. Co. coalition. In 2004, 10 high school students attended an alcohol environmental strategies workshop presented by the Alcohol Prevention Enhancement Site and hosted by Communicare Regional Prevention Center. The youth spent two days exploring alcohol issues and the relevance of alcohol environmental strategies in a dry county. After returning home, the youth were energized and immediately began the nearly two-year project of getting a Social Host Ordinance passed. Months of research, planning, drafting, and presenting were rewarded in the spring of 2006 when the Breckinridge Co. Fiscal Court passed the first Social Host Ordinance in the state of Kentucky. The Breckinridge County youth have presented their project at a national conference and have begun mentoring other coalitions and youth groups in the state on this initiative.

Breck. Co. Youth---At fiscal court after ordinance passed

Other drugs have also been targeted by the Breckinridge County Coalition for Change. After attending the Governor’s 2004 Drug Control Assessment Summit and researching the intentions of the newly formed Office of Drug Control Policy, the coalition began collecting and assessing local data regarding methamphetamine. Realizing the county’s geographic location to Daviess County where Meth is a problem, and the local police data, and student self reported use; the coalition began tackling the Meth issues in Breckinridge County. In 2005, over 2000 Breck. Co. community members have been reached with Methamphetamine Prevention & Awareness programs. The Meth Watch Program has been implemented in the community and 20 local retail vendors have been trained and partnered with the coalition to assist with the program.

In 2003, the coalition was asked to be part of the Ohio County Drug Free Communities Mentoring Program. Through this partnership the coalition has had extensive training on The Developmental Assets and has successfully marketed and implemented the Assets framework to schools, faith-based programs, and businesses in the area. Through this initiative, four successful Town Hall Meetings have been conducted which have provided the coalition with a forum to share, promote and recruit for the coalition.

Formal community partnerships have assisted the coalition by establishing collaborative efforts to address common goals. The Breck. Co. local ASAP board has partnered with the coalition to address needs and resource assessment tasks as well as guidance on local policy issues. The Breck. Co. Tobacco Coalition has partnered with the coalition to establish a formal policy and program for youth tobacco violations. This program is unique due to the cooperation of the local police department. Local law enforcement issues citations to youth under the age of 18 in possession of tobacco products and refers them to the TEG/TAP Program implemented by the Tobacco Coordinator. Failure to complete the program results in court action. The coalition played an integral role in the establishment of this program through planning, collaborative meetings and funding of the curriculum.

In its relatively short existence, The Breckinridge County Coalition for Change has been successful in reaching their goals to address ATOD. Members of the coalition look forward to continuing their work to make a difference in their community.

The Breckinridge County Coalition for Change
Deborah Shortt, MA, CPP
Prevention Specialist
Communicare RPC
1311 N. Dixie Hwy. Bldg. A
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 765-5992ext.1406