What is Project Connect the Dots?

Who We Are

Project: Connect the Dots is the implementation stage of the Surry County Strategic Prevention Framework – State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG).  The SPF-SIG process began in September 2007 under the direction of Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare and the Surry County SPF-SIG Community Advisory Panel (CAP).  Initially, a community needs assessment was completed in cooperation with the Children’s Center of Surry with a priority of reducing the number of alcohol related automobile crashes.  The Surry County Community Needs Assessment was published in March 2008 with the following findings and recommendations as recommended by the Surry County CAP.

Low perceived risks of arrest and penalties related to driving under the influence as well as a low perceived risks related to alcohol use was identified as having the highest priority according to needs assessment research.  Specific details related to the low perceived risks include:

Community Feelings Related to Low Perceived Risks of Arrest/Penalties

• Many believe that risks of getting caught drinking and driving is low
• The belief that schools fail to summon police for alcohol violations is common
• Many believe that penalties for underage drinking are not serious
• Belief that there are too few law enforcement officers to catch underage drinkers
• Perceptions that drinking and driving are the only risks related to alcohol use
• A lack of knowledge of penalties for providing alcohol to minors

Community Feelings Related to Low Perceived Risks of Alcohol Use

• A belief exists in the community that alcohol is not as dangerous as other drugs
• Perception that alcohol is safe as long as you are not driving
• Many believe that hard liquor is dangerous but beer is not

After reviewing the eight factors above, the CAP recorded the top three factors that according to the data collected seemed to contribute to Low Perceived Risks:

1. Alcohol is not as dangerous as other drugs
2. Lack of knowledge of penalties around providing alcohol to minors
3. Belief that there is a low risk of getting caught drinking and driving

Local Management Entity (LME)
Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare
http://www.crossroadsbhc.org

Implementation Organization
Unlimited Success
http://unlimitedsuccessnc.org

Project Facilitation/ Evaluation
Surry Friends of Youth
http://www.sfoy.org

What is Project Connect the Dots?

Through a collaboration of Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare, UnLimited Success and Surry Friends of Youth the name Project Connect the Dots had been tabbed to provide a public identity to the implementation phase of Surry SPF-SIG. 

Project: Connect the Dots has been charged to implement environmental prevention strategies that are based on  interventions that have been scientifically proven to reduce community alcohol usage in similar communities.  Examples of Project: Connect the Dots activities will include:

• Coordination of Peer Led Interventions with local high school and the community college
• Creation of a web site to educate the community about the dangers of drinking and driving and excessive alcohol use
• Development of a My Space and Face Book presence to promote Project: Connect the Dots activities
• Production of a video documentary that highlights the actual process that a community member might expect to go through if charged with driving while impaired
• Distribution of audio and video pubic service announcements (PSA) about the dangers of excessive alcohol use and impaired driving
• Education sessions to inform the public about the research and goals of Project: Connect the Dots
• Implementation of the Domino Strategy ® for Responsible Alcohol Use as a common theme for all media and public education efforts
• Coordinated Media Efforts via radio, television, billboard and community marketing about the dangers of excessive alcohol use
• Development of a committee of concerned citizens to research the feasibility of creating a local Coalition for Drug Abuse Prevention advocacy organization
• Publication of a current listing of all substance abuse prevention, treatment and law enforcement efforts within Surry County

Email:info@projectconnectthedots.info

Project is supported with funds from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), and the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS).