Coalition Goals

  • Educate and inform citizens about the alcohol and drug misuse issues in Boone County.
  • Conduct and facilitate regular assessments within Boone County
  • Utilize the Strategic Prevention Framework to identify root causes and local conditions to effectively implement an array of culturally competent prevention programming.
  • Collaborate and coordinate with other organizations to build capacity in the community’s alcohol and drug misuse prevention efforts.
  • Advocate for policy that supports good prevention practices and continued funding for programming.
  • Secure funding through grants, contributions and/or fundraisers to sustain Coalition work.
The Coalition (BCDPC),  with the help of Crimestoppers and CVS pharmacy, installed drug bins in order to keep prescription drugs out of the hands of Boone County youth. It is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. It is located in the lobby of the Public Safety Building at 615 N Main St in Belvidere and another at Candlewick Lake Association at 13400 IL-76, Poplar Grove.

Support

The BCDPC provides support to our community, not just by attending events and providing help on their initiatives but also by working with other local taskforces and groups to ensure we are providing more help to our community with our resources and networking abilities. 

The BCDPC sits on the Behavioral Health Task Force in Boone County to aid in efforts for the opioid crisis. We provide support by assisting with communications and resources to provide valuable information to the community, attend meetings and events hosted by this group, and assist with grant writing that can benefit both of our missions. 

Youth

Our youth are an important part of our mission and vision to have a healthier community in Boone County. We work with youth to provide positive outlets for them and provide opportunities for leadership within their schools and community by inviting them to join our program for youth leadership through the Illinois Human Performance Project (ILHPP). This program was created for youth and by youth. They named their chapter called PALS, which stands for Prevention, Advocacy, Leadership and Strategies.

The YLC is comprised of youth ages 16-18 who come together to aid in coalition efforts as well as lead their own to help model leadership and positive drug free lifestyles for their peers. Their goals are to help create a safer and drug free environment to help keep youth of all ages on a positive path to a brighter future. Our youth are currently working on developing new programming in the schools so students may have more leadership opportunities and positive outlets that may also go hand in hand with other extra curriculars they may participate in.

Community Education

The BCDPC works to provide an array of information to the public in the forms of:
  • Share quarterly newsletters, rack cards, magnets and information sheets that provide education on current drug trends, local resources and drug disposal sites.
  • Produce media communication campaigns to provide messages to the region on substance misuse and mental health topics.
  • Educate through presentations for partners, schools and local businesses on coalition activities, new data, important dates and events related to substance misuse.
  • Speak at local and state conferences.
  • Take part in health fairs, parent or community events, seminars, workshops.
  • Inform businesses and community members/schools on policy changes.
  • Link the community to resources regarding substance abuse prevention

Policy

We strive to create or amend policies at the local level and institutional level to help address needs that increase positive outcomes in Boone County for substance misuse.

We advocate for community and state level change by educating our legislators and elected officials on evidenced based prevention to ensure good policy development and adequate funding for our work. We accomplish this through our partnership with the Illinois Prevention Network, by taking part in multiple advocacy days each year.