Dog Action Team ready to respond

Published 6:31 pm Friday, April 25, 2008

On Oct. 25, 13 people completed training with the Island County Drug Action Team (ICDAT).

The half-day training was conducted in Coupeville by Wanda Rochelle, prevention manager with Safe Streets Campaign in Tacoma, and focused on Meth 360, a short community presentation developed by the national Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Meth 360 easily adapts to any context where the concern is drugs, alcohol and violence among youth.

Attendees included Island County Sheriff Mark Brown as well as representatives of Probation, Child Protective Services, Department of Corrections, Seeds of Change, the South Whidbey Youth Connection and other concerned citizens.

The aim of the training was to prepare teams of three to speak in schools, business groups, congregations and other venues on issues of substance abuse prevention. Each team consists of a prevention specialist, a representative from law enforcement and someone with knowledge of the process of recovery.

Teams are funded in part by the statewide Community Mobilization program working county by county to prevent drug and alcohol abuse as well as violence among youth. A Drug Action Team is prepared to come to any location in Island County to present a program adaptable to any time frame.

To schedule a presentation, call the South Whidbey Youth Connection at 221-4142.

Chris Highland

Langley