History

The Genesee County Prevention Coalition was originally formed in 2007 under the name Genesee Alcohol and Addiction Prevention (GAAP) Coalition. The formation of the Coalition was in response to the State of Michigan’s Strategic Prevention Framework – State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG) to address alcohol-related crashes and underage drinking in Genesee County. The Coalition was convened by Genesee Health System (formally known as Genesee County Community Mental Health) and served as a subcommittee of the Genesee County Community Collaborative.

A few of the early accomplishments of the Coalition included:

• March 2010- Received the 2009 Traffic Safety Achievement Award from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Commission for the Coalition’s success in reducing alcohol and drug-related traffic fatalities and serious injuries in the Dort Highway area.
• June 2010- the Genesee County Drinking & Driving media campaign won two silver Addy awards and one gold Addy award.

IMPACT: In 2006, Genesee County ranked 2nd highest for the number of alcohol-related fatal traffic crashes in Michigan; in 2009, Genesee County dropped down to the 4th highest.

• January 2011- the anti-Underage Drinking media campaign (When You Host…Everyone Loses) won a silver Addy award.
• Reduced access to alcohol by underage youth through training and partnerships with law enforcement and retail outlets in Genesee County.

IMPACT: Trained 100 local law enforcement officers in the Michigan Liquor Law Enforcement Training Seminar; 690 bar tenders, servers, clerks, etc. received beverage server training in Techniques for Alcohol Management (TAM)

• In January 2010 the Coalition expanded its prevention efforts to include Prescription Drug Awareness through a grant from Prosecutor David Leyton’s Office
• March 2011- Twenty (20) Genesee County school districts passed the Prescription Drug Awareness School Board Resolution
• May 2011- “Responsible Prescribing Practices from Morphine to Marijuana” the first ever Continuing Medical Education (CME) event with all three local hospitals (Hurley, McLaren and Genesys); approximately 200 physicians, medical assistants, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, social workers, and addiction professionals in attendance.

IMPACT: Increased the number of permanent prescription drug collection sites at local law enforcement agencies across Genesee County from five to eleven.

In 2013 the Coalition implemented the Community Trials Model to bring key community stakeholders together under the Partnership for Success grant to expand coalition efforts to reduce underage drinking and increase awareness of prescription drug misuse and abuse. To better understand these issues, the Coalition conducted a Community Survey focused on patterns of use, perceptions and consequences for individuals aged 18-25 and 26+. The results of this survey helped guide the Coalition in updating its Strategic Plan and implementing evidence-based strategies.

In 2015 changes at the State level resulted in a re-organization of coordination of substance use prevention, treatment and recovery services in Genesee County. Coordination of these services shifted from Genesee Health System to Region 10 PIHP. Through a competitive RFP process Region 10 awarded Remedy Exchange, Inc. the contract to continue coordination and staffing to the Coalition. Since this transition the Genesee County Prevention Coalition has focused on building capacity and developing partnerships to ensure healthy, safe and productive lives for all Genesee County residents.