What's Up with Minnesota Star of the North Prevention Coalition?
Star of the North Coalition, a statewide network of community-based prevention partnerships committed to preventing problems related to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, received notification from the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), that federal funding for the project will end September 30, 1996. Star was preparing to begin the third year of a five year community prevention coalition demonstration project. This cut is a direct result of Congress slashing budgets for alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse prevention. Barry Dunayer, Project Director observed, "This budget decrease is happening at the same time alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among adolescents is on the increase."

Star of the North has developed a strong statewide Coalition of 130 participating coalitions statewide. Other accomplishments include:

* Creation of a statewide electronic system using the Internet to facilitate communication among Coalition members and allows access to pertinent prevention information. Star of the North's home page can be viewed on the WWW at http://www.miph.org/star

* Publication of Using the Internet: A Guide to Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Prevention Resources, a new and useful resource;

* Development of prevention policy principles designed to influence local, regional and state prevention policies; and

* Delivery of regional trainings and technical assistance on prevention issues, including: community organizing/coalition building, intergenerational dialogue, cultural leadership development, mentorship training, grant writing, teen improv theater training, formal and informal prevention policy, and technology.

Although CSAP funding is ending, Star of the North will continue through early 1997 and beyond, based on securing additional funding. During Star of the North's transition over the next six months, there will be:

* Seven regional forums to provide opportunities for networking and resource sharing among community-based groups. As part of each forum there will be workshops on using the new technology and how to use the policy principles to influence policy;

* Train-the-Trainer workshops in how to use Walking the Talk, a program to facilitate communication between parents and their children concerning alcohol, tobacco and other drug use and nonuse; and

* A coalition database developed to help local coalitions network with one another.

* Evaluation efforts to document lessons learned and outcomes of Coalition activities.

Throughout the next three months, Regional Prevention Specialists will continue to provide technical assistance to local prevention groups.

Additional funds are being sought to build on the Star of the North's accomplishments. For additional information, contact Barry Dunayer, Project Director at 612-427-5310.

UPDATE
Shortly before this issue went to press we were informed by CSAP, that as a result of recent Congressional action, it is CSAP's intention to reinstate approximately 50 percent funding for CSAP partnerships that were defunded in June of 1996. Star of the North is included in this group of partnerships.

We have not yet received written notification of this action. CSAP staff stated that they intend to accomplish the reinstatement of funding by mid-October. However, we are excited about the potential funding to support the continuation of our statewide coalition and are watching our mail very carefully.

We will update readers of Impact in the next edition and inform all members of the Star of the North Coalition of any word from CSAP as soon as possible.