PATH to Prevention Newsletter
(Faiths and Institutions Together for Health)
Project PATH and the Fullerton Police Department Work to Reduce Alcohol Sales to Minors
Project PATH Working With Local Health Care Sites
Santa Ana
Project PATH
Project PATH (Positive Action Toward Health) is a non-profit, community-based alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) prevention program.
MISSION
Project PATH is committed to creating a safe and healthy Orange County by eliminating problems associated with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use through education, training, and technical assistance.
Project PATH achieves its mission by:
· Collaborating with local law enforcement to develop prevention campaigns based on alcohol and other drug data
· Incorporating alcohol, tobacco, and other drug education and prevention strategies in schools, colleges/universities, faith and community-based organizations, and retail establishments
· Instituting responsible alcohol sales and service policies in restaurants, bars, liquor stores, and grocery stores
· Creating working partnerships to address and act on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug issues
HISTORY
Project PATH, the alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) prevention program at CSP, has had a long and distinguished history. Project PATH was first implemented in 1995 to address ATOD related issues in South Orange County. Since 1998, Project PATH has operated in Central Orange County, and in North Orange County for the past five years, assisting communities to mobilize around ATOD-related issues.
PATH uses the Public Health Model as a framework to achieve its mission. Focusing on environmental approaches, PATH works to mobilize key community leaders to address the source of problems in their community that lead to alcohol and other drug-related issues. Acting as the change agent, PATH assesses the community using science-based research, including surveys, key informant interviews, and observations to determine the extent of ATOD problems. Once the extent of the problems are established, local data are analyzed in collaborating with community agencies such as law enforcement, city staff, business owners, school district officials, and key community members with vested interests in addressing problems associated with ATOD use.
Project PATH is also grounded in theories of youth development. Believing that youth are valuable resources in their community, age-appropriate activities are incorporated into campaigns that allow youth a voice around ATOD issues. Based on concepts of the Developmental Assets and resiliency, PATH assists in leadership training for young people that enables them to serve their community in a meaningful and positive way. The involvement of youth in local ATOD prevention activities is integral to the mission of PATH.
Project PATH employs Health Educators to carry out its mission. Educated in theories of public health, PATH Health Educators are skilled in mobilizing community leaders to address public health concerns. These trained facilitators have a vast knowledge of community assessment, program planning, implementation and evaluation in health education. PATH staff is also trained to provide technical assistance to local policy makers around ATOD policies and theories of health behavior change.
PATH serves Central and North Orange County.
If you or your group would like assistance in addressing alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems in your area, please email PATH at pathcentral@CSPinc.org (Central Orange County) or pathnorth@CSPinc.org or youthservices@CSPinc.org, call (949) 250-0488 or visit the Contact Information page for more contact information. If you have any other questions or comments, please email generalinfo@CSPinc.org.