RD3 - Report of the Governor's Office for Substance Abuse Prevention - 2002


Executive Summary:
During FY 2001-2002, the Governor’s Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (GOSAP) extended its state-wide reach and, consistent with its statutory charge, established a solid foundation for maximum coordination of substance abuse prevention resources at the state, county and municipal levels of Virginia government. GOSAP has provided technical assistance, program guidance, opportunities for interagency collaboration and financial support to scores of Virginia-based prevention programs serving dozens of communities and thousands of citizens in every area of the Commonwealth. Among these major accomplishments have been:

Launching the KIDsafe Virginia program to make the general public aware of the critical causal link between substance abuse and the incidence of crime in Virginia’s communities, while taking the prevention message and safety education to children in every locality within the Commonwealth.

Working with James Madison University to provide technical assistance, training for substance abuse prevention professionals, and program guidance for applicants and recipients of funding under the State Incentive Grant or the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Program. Using a training curriculum developed under a grant to JMU, this innovative Capacity-Building Initiative conducted training for almost 300 individuals in 12 regional workshops, with a number of additional substance abuse prevention professionals completing these courses online.

Offering project-specific consultation and assistance for Second-Chance Grants. This extra support of worthy projects and program proposals made the difference for applicants whose initial proposals were deemed technically insufficient, but whose proposed services were otherwise judged to be important for their local community’s prevention efforts.

Redesign of the GOSAP Web site (www.gosap.state.va.us), to become a general information and advocacy resource for prevention professionals, youth and parents, while making substance abuse prevention information and services readily accessible for allVirginians.

Establishing a regional scope for the Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project (YADAPP). YADAPP will be expanded to include youth leadership training opportunities in multiple regions throughout the Commonwealth.

Expansion of the State Incentive Grant Advisory Council, on which 40 member representatives from state and local government agencies, private companies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and substance abuse experts regularly collaborate for the purpose of sharing “best practices.” This Council will be instrumental in development and implementation of GOSAP’s State-wide Prevention Strategic Plan, to be published during FY 2002-2003.