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| Bridgeway Recognizes AlWood Communities for Substance Abuse Recognition |
There's still a long way to go, but two area communities are being recognized for their efforts to at least be willing to address a problem most might acknowledge exists but may not want to do something about.
Bridgeway Thursday released the results of a survey taken with citizens of the AlWood School District, which determined that on a scale of one to nine, Alpha and Woodhull are at a Stage Two in dealing with the problem of youth substance abuse -- that's defined as "Denial/Resistance," or, recognizing there could be a problem in general, but not much recognition that it's occurring locally.
Bridgeway Prevention Specialist Mike Eskridge says leaders in the two communities clearly seem ready to tackle the problem head-on. "There are many key resources that are available in the AlWood communities," Eskridge said. "An education curriculum has been implemented in the junior high school. It's called 'Project Alert.' They have two police departments, good positive things. You have budgeted community funds."
Eskrich says that's in addition to a community-wide, as he calls it, "boot-strap mentality" that allows people to mobilize when they see a need, and a good community-wide networking effort in place.
Bridgeway says many of those who took part in the Tri-Ethnic Survey on Community Readiness have agreed to meet on a regular basis over the next several months in order to come up with a five-year strategic plan of attack on substance abuse.
(Among those recognized Thursday at the Clover Public Library in Woodhull by Bridgeway are, from left to right: Jay Bizarri, AlWood Middle/High School principal; Marvin Waters; Keith Taflinger, Alpha Police Chief; Heather Stanfield; Angie Althaus, Kelli Hand. Not pictured: Dave Holmes, Darren Jaros, Jim Shannon, Don Vail. WGIL News Story and Photo by Will Stevenson.) |
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| 04 03 09 by Newsroom |
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