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Right Choice Program Substance Abuse Council of Indian River County Indian River County CSAC B. PROGRAM NEED STATEMENT (Entire Section B not to exceed one page) 1 . a) What is the unacceptable condition requiring change? b) Who has the need? c) Where do they live? d) Provide local, state, or national trend data, with reference source, that corroborates that this is an area of need. Indian River County has a continuing need for a program that addresses drug and alcohol offense committed by it's youth. Some of these youth are charged with misdemeanor drug or alcohol related charges. For others, their use is uncovered by a parent, without contact with law enforcement. This program was designed to reduce drug and alcohol use by youth by increasing protective factors thus reducing incidences of substance abuse and re-occurring juvenile offenses. Juvenile delinquency cases received in Indian River County within the six year period from FY99- 00 to FY04-05 decreased from 946 to 773 cases (a decrease of 28.24% from FY96-97 of 1 ,080 cases received). But during the same time FY99-00 to FY04-05 the number of Indian River County youth charged with misdemeanor drug and alcohol charges has decreased from 141 cases to 132 cases (but an increase of 26.08% from FY 96-97 of 92 cases). (These stats are based upon statistical data collected and reported in the 2004-05 Florida Yrojde of Defitpuency cares and Youths Referred Report by the Bureau of Data & Research, Din. These numbers only reflect the youth charged with misdemeanor offenses and not those identified by schools or family. The FYSA Survey provides scientifically sound information on the prevalence of ATOD use, risk and protective factors. Risk and protective factors are characteristics of the community, school, family, individual and peer characteristics that are known to predict alcohol and other drug use, delinquency, and gang involvement. Besides measuring risk and protective factors, the FYSAS also assesses the current prevalence of these problem behaviors in the community. The FYSAS (2004), an indicates that Indian River youth continue to exceeded the Florida State rate of youth reported drug use in their lifetimes. Even though Indian River County's youth prevalence drug rate have showed a decrease in the past five (5) years, the prevalence rates for all drug use in Indian River County youth have historically been elevated above the state and national rates. Based upon FYSAS (2004) Indian River County's youth prevalence rates for Binge drinking (defined as the consumption of five or more drinks in a row within the last two weeks) is more prevalent than past 30-day tobacco, marijuana and other illicit drug use. . The FYSAS 's findings illustrate the complexity of drug use and antisocial behavior among our youth and possible factors that may contribute to these activities. In addition the FYSA Survey (2004), IRC scored higher than the State and other like Counties in the following risk factors areas : • Poor Family Discipline • Early Initiation of Drug Use • Youth Attitude Favorable to ATOD use • Parental Attitude Favorable to Antisocial Behavior • Family History of Antisocial Behavior • Current ATOD use among youth • Perceived Risks of Drug Use • Friends Use of Drugs • Parental Attitude Favorable to ATOD use 2. a) Identify similar programs that are currently serving the needs of your targeted population; b) Explain how these existing programs are under-serving the targeted population of your program. New Horizons provides Student Support Specialist in the middle schools. DATA also provides services to youth. Both these agencies work with a very small indicated population of students and can not serve the entire indicated population of youth. These youth would receive no program services if the Right Choice Program was not available. Right Choice provides no duplication of services. 5