Violence and substance abuse affect all of us on a day-to-day basis-from the necessity of locking our houses and cars to the extra work on our plates due to an addicted or abused co-worker. One local program is taking a unique approach to solving these problems by recognizing their interwoven nature and addressing them at a base level.

"Research demonstrates that communities are more effective in preventing and reducing violence if they build multi-disciplinary partnerships and implement a coordinated, community response," said Kris Mills, Safe to Live site coordinator for the Center for Prevention of Abuse. "The Safe to Live Substance Abuse/Violence Prevention Integration Initiative (STLV SA/VP) is a planning and implementation project funded by the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority (IVPA) to support the development/enhancement of a community-wide, collaborative approach to substance abuse and violence prevention."

She said STLV SA/VP is one of three IVPA-funded sites in the state-and the only site to have the substance abuse/violence prevention integrated project. "This integrated approach to violence and substance abuse prevention places Peoria County at the leading edge of prevention research and programming. Local partners, led by the Center for Prevention of Abuse, have completed a year-and-a-half planning period, resulting in a three-year strategic plan. The initial goal of the plan is to decrease substance abuse/violence in families by increasing healthy beliefs and clear standards within families. We plan to reach this goal by developing a social marketing campaign, working with local media to promote prevention efforts, and increase the community’s understanding of substance abuse/violence and the effects these issues have on individuals, families, and our community."

She said STLV SA/VP assists the community in further developing and enhancing prevention work being facilitated by so many organizations. "In integrating substance abuse/violence prevention, our community gets a better ’bang for their buck.’ In other words, we’re addressing common risk and protective factors for substance abuse/violence, thus preventing two problems with one concentrated, collaborative effort. In this era of shrinking budgets and increased need for prevention, STLV SA/VP provides local organizations and community members the opportunity to be involved in activities that help maximize collaboration from all sectors of our community."

The Safe to Live project is unique, but the connection between violence and substance abuse isn’t new. "In looking at the problems of violence and substance abuse, social service providers know there are many common risk and protective factors for each," Mills explained. "Additionally, social service and criminal justice professionals see that there’s a relationship between the two issues. While many programs work to treat or prevent violence or substance abuse, research shows these problems are best treated and further prevented when there’s an integrated approach that utilizes the best resources and practices from both fields."

And though it may be uncomfortable to think about, these two issues are universal equalizers, Mills said. "Violence and substance abuse are two things in this world that don’t discriminate. They don’t care how much money you do or don’t have, what faith you do or don’t practice, what part of town you live in, or what color your skin is. On any given day, one in four workers would test positive on a drug test. Twenty-five percent of the population has been personally touched by family violence. Violence and substance abuse affect everyone. Our tax dollars help pay for intervention and treatment programs, as well as court and law enforcement costs. Our children go to school with other children who act out as a way of dealing with the violence and substance abuse they’ve seen at home or in their neighborhood. Our neighborhoods are places where violence and substance abuse live secretly behind closed doors. Even if an individual doesn’t personally struggle with the issue of substance abuse and/or violence, there are multitude ways we’re all affected."

A natural partner, Youth and Community Services (YCS), part of White Oaks Companies of Illinois, was invited to represent the substance abuse prevention half of the Safe to Live program. "YCS offers substance abuse prevention education, intervention, and out-patient treatment for youth 10 to 17 years old, and mental health counseling for families and children up to 17 years old," explained Steve Fairbanks, InTouch coordinator for YCS.

He said combining their efforts strengthens both organizations. "Both disciplines strive to help people live safe and healthy lives, and both frequently provide services to similar clientele-victims of violence and perpetrators who also may be substance abusers. Despite those striking similarities, these two disciplines typically operate in isolation from each other. Through Safe to Live, we hope to clarify the volatile relationship between substance abuse and violence. Violence is a choice, and substance abuse is an inflammatory agent on a perpetrator’s decision to commit violence."

To make use of the funds and begin an assault of these issues, Mills said during this fiscal year, the Safe to Live partners are conducting market research to determine what message they can share with the community that will help them decrease substance abuse/violence and increase healthy beliefs and clear standards. "Additionally, we’ll provide opportunities for community members to learn about these issues, how they affect us, and what we all can do to work toward prevention. Finally, STLV SA/VP partners will work with local media to promote prevention work and help the community recognize the value of substance abuse/violence prevention work."

It may seem like "someone else’s problem," but she said it’s everyone’s job to prevent substance abuse and violence. "Parents need to model health beliefs and clear standards for their children. Children need to make appropriate, healthy choices. Adults need to act as appropriate role models for youth. Civic leaders need to support policies that deter substance abuse and violence and promote prevention efforts. Media outlets need to take part in educating the public about the problems and ways to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Community members need to become an active part of their neighborhood: volunteer as a healthy role model in a youth program and support programs and policies that promote prevention principles. Churches, temples, and synagogues need to provide safe places for people to discuss substance abuse/violence while educating them about healthy, moral ways to live and deal with problems. Most importantly, if individuals or families are experiencing violence or substance abuse, they need to seek the necessary professional support to stop these damaging behaviors."

After this year of planning, Mills said later years of implementation will see STLV SA/VP continue the community awareness-raising activities, while enhancing current prevention programs, such as those programs occurring in schools. "Additionally, STLV SA/VP will provide assistance to groups and organizations interested in implementing prevention programs. We hope to obtain large community support and participation in STLV SA/VP efforts because it’s only through the collective work of a community that we can effectively prevent substance abuse/violence."

In addition to the integration of the two disciplines, she said one of the most exciting aspects of being involved with Safe to Live is the assistance and recognition it’s receiving from state-level partners. "This attention can only mean good things for Peoria."

But none of their plans and progress would be possible without the work of the collaborative partners, Mills said. "Each member of the STLV SA/VP partnership has a deep dedication to the STLV SA/VP mission: ’We envision a united community, built on respect, where everyone is Safe to Live.’ While our challenge has been, and will continue to be, the amount of detailed work needed to realize our goals for this community, I’m confident the ongoing support from current partners will lead others in our community to add their assistance toward the STLV SA/VP efforts."

Fairbanks agrees the people involved in this effort are what make it work. "The best thing is the enthusiastic collaboration with caring and dedicated professionals who represent great civic and social service agencies, organizations, and hospitals in our community. The most challenging part has been enduring the meticulous and tedious growth and development of our work. We’re anxious to contribute to improving the overall health of our community."

For more information, call 686-9343. TPW