DRUG FREE COALITIONS TO HOLD EXERCISE

AS part of the Prevention and Early Intervention Advisory Community
Empowerment's (PEACE commitment to build capacity in substance abuse
prevention with Guam's Community Drug-Free Coalitions, a two-day team
building training will be held this week at the Outrigger Guam
Resort. Community Services and Resources Inc. (CSR), one of Guam's
five drug-free coalitions and sub-grantees under the PEACE program,
will be hosting the "Building Drug-Free Coalitions" training on Feb. 8 and 9.

Participants of the two-day training will engage in a variety of team
building exercises including water sports and activities that promote
collaboration and understanding of cultural diversity among the coalitions.

Training areas include: successful team building, shared vision,
skilled leadership, cultural values and beliefs in our island's
society that both encourage/discourage alcohol and tobacco use/abuse,
cultural values in relation to the Strategic Prevention Framework
State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG 5-step process) and more.

The training will be facilitated by Kawika Yahiro from Hawaii, a
trained Center of Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) Prevention
Specialist and Trainer of Trainer, who has nearly 20 years of
experience providing technical assistance and support to non-profit
agencies on program development, financial management, grant
administration and evaluation. Members of the other drug-free
coalitions (Island Families of Micronesia, Oasis Empowerment Center,
Pa'a Taotao Tano, and Pacific Abundant Living Ministries, Inc. or
PALM) will be attending this training.

Grants

These drug-free coalitions are now sub-grantees under the PEACE
program and represent the successful collaboration of approximately
36 community organizations.

The sub-grantees have been awarded a combined total of $341,069
through PEACE's Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant
from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The multiple grant awards are being used to develop community-driven
action plans that will result in new community-based substance abuse
prevention programs for Guam.

The priority areas in Guam's PEACE efforts are: alcohol among youth
and adults and tobacco among youth and adults.

The group reaches out in the communities to offer alcohol, tobacco
and other drug prevention and early intervention resources and tools,
and serves as a link to state level agencies, as well as the community.

PEACE is present in Guam's 19 villages through satellite offices and
is located in each of the four districts on Guam

Community members who may be interested in joining any of the drug
free coalitions and participating in the upcoming training can
contact Cynthia Cabot at (671) 687-7777.

Seating is limited and available only on the second day of the
training. For more information about Guam's Community Drug-Free
Coalitions, visit www.peaceguam.org.