FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM (SAPP)

Chicago, April 20, 2009: The Asian Health Coalition of Illinois (AHCI) and the Coalition for Asian Substance Abuse Prevention (CASAP) are pleased to announce that three Chicago public schools, John C. Haines Elementary School, James Ward Elementary School, and Robert S. Abbott Elementary School, in the communities of Armour Square and Bridgeport have begun implementing Project Northland this week.

Project Northland is a school-based, substance abuse prevention curriculum designed to (1) delay the age at which adolescents begin consuming alcohol, (2) reduce the number of adolescents currently drinking, and (3) decrease the number of alcohol-related problems experienced by adolescents who use. The curriculum involves students in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades along with their peers, parents, and communities in the effort to prevent underage drinking. Project Northland will continue to be implemented during the fall of the next school year at the three Chicago public schools. Recruitment of additional schools to participate in the intervention will also occur to begin implementation the following spring.

AHCI began this initiative in June 2007 when it was awarded a three-year grant by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to lead the effort for developing and implementing a comprehensive plan for substance abuse prevention in the Asian community of Bridgeport and Armour Square. Currently, the program is now in its implementation phase. The first phase involved capacity-building through the formation of a community coalition. An assessment of the community's needs and resources to prevent substance abuse among adolescents soon followed. A strategic plan outlining approaches for prevention based on the data collected from the needs assessment formed the third phase of the program.

In December 2008, AHCI, in collaboration with IDHS and the Chinese American Service League (CASL), held a town hall meeting as a kickoff event for the implementation phase of the substance abuse prevention program. The purpose of this meeting was to increase awareness of the barriers to mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment for Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).

The AHCI's mission is to improve the health and wellness of all Asian American Pacific Islanders in Illinois through advocacy, technical assistance, public and community-based education and research.

If you wish to obtain further information, please contact Meme Wang or Dr. Hong Liu as listed above.

CONTACT:

Meme Wang,MPH., Program Manager
Asian Health Coalition of Illinois
Office: 773-878-0035
Fax: 773-878-0783

Hong Liu,PhD., Executive Director
Asian Health Coalition of Illinois
Office: 773-878-8969
Fax: 773-878-0783