WOLCOTT CASA
About Us
The Citizens Against Substance Abuse (CASA) Coalition aims to reduce substance abuse and promote wellness in Wolcott through collaboration, education, awareness and community action.
CASA History
The Coalition was first formed over twenty years ago due to concerned citizens in town who wanted to protect the youth from risky behavior.
The Coalition was restructured in 2010 and has met monthly since then to reduce and prevent substance use among youth as well as promoting mental health.
Community Partners
CASA is made up of volunteers from the community including youth, parents, grandparents, business leaders, educators, local government officials, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, healthcare professionals, concerned citizens, and other organizations dedicated to building a healthy Wolcott!
Funding
CASA receives local, state-wide, and federal grant funding. Funding also comes from local foundation grants and donations to sustain prevention efforts of the coalition resources and staff.
RTC Youth Leadership
RTC (Respect, Trust, and Commitment) is CASA's youth subgroup. This group is made up of Wolcott students in grades 6-12.
RTC is intended for students that are looking to make a positive impact in their school and throughout the community by educating their peers on making healthy choices in their everyday life.
CASA in Action
CASA follows the guidelines of the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and CADCA 7 Strategies for Community Level Change.
Both guidelines help in developing the infrastructure needed for community‐based, public health approaches that can lead to effective and sustainable reductions in alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) use and abuse.
Providing Invormation
Providing Information can be through educational presentations, workshops, PSAs, brochures, or community meetings.
Providing Support
Providing Support is creating opportunities to support people to participate in activities that reduce risk or enhance protection. Some examples CASA does are free yoga, meditation, in-person and virtual Zen Den, and Chat and Splat at the high school.
Enhancing Access
& Reducing Barriers
The purpose of this strategy is to improve systems and processes to increase the ease, ability and opportunity to utilize systems and services. Some examples include having access to education, childcare, transportation and providing cultural and language sensitivity. An example CASA does is participating in National Drug Take Back Day twice a year.
Changing
Consequences
Changing consequences focuses on increasing or decreasing the likelihood of a specific behavior that reduces risk or enhances protection by altering the consequences for performing that behavior. Examples of this are increasing recognition of desired behavior.
Enhancing Skills
Enhancing Skills includes workshops or activities designed to increase the skills of participants. This could be through training, strategic planning, or classes / programs.
Changing
Physical Design
Changing the physical design or structure of the environment to reduce risks or enhance protection. Some examples include parks, landscapes, and signage.
Signage is strategically placed throughout the Wolcott community in efforts to deter youth drug use. No vaping signs will be placed on school property specifically to deter young people from vaping and/or smoking. In addition to no vaping signs, there are "We Support CASA" signs up throughout the community thanks to our supportive partners and organizations.
Modifying & Changing Policies
Changing policies includes formal change in written procedures, by-laws, proclamations, rules or laws with written documentation or voting procedure. Some examples are workplace initiatives law enforcement procedures, public policy action, or changes in communities or organizations. CASA in collaboration with the Wolcott High School Administration and the Counseling Department have implemented a new vaping policy. This vaping policy is unique in its effort to focus on restorative practices that offers students who are caught vaping the choice of 3 days of in-school suspension or 5 counseling sessions with their school counselor.
Every May CASA participates in National Prevention Week, an annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness and action around substance use prevention and the promotion of positive mental health.
CASA's National Prevention Week Activities consist of: Presentations at both the middle and high school, PSA's, training opportunities, new prevention awareness campaigns, lawn signs, social media posts, email blasts, mailings, substance free events (pizza parties, movie nights), sticker shocks, Town Hall Meetings, and more!
Subscribe to our email newsletter list on our Contact page to get the latest news, updates, and events!
Data Highlights
