NEW COALITION DIRECTOR TO TAKE DIFFERENT FOCUS ON PREVENTION

GAUTIER - The Jackson County Children's Services Coalition has a new
executive director and a slightly different focus. Jim Yancey took the
job last month after managing the Coalition's science-based drinking
prevention program for the past three years.

"From my perspective of working in prevention, I want to focus on drug
prevention," he said. "I think we should find one thing and do it well
but still be involved with other projects."

Yancey, who also worked at Singing River Hospital's mental health
center and as a therapist in private practice, believes the coalition
has done really well with drug prevention. However, he says it's time
to take a different approach.

"There are a couple of things driving that decision," he said. "One is
that the methamphetamine and prescription drug problem is growing and
has moved from rural areas to the cities. Second is that we're
starting to see some duplication of efforts in trying to combat this
problem."

The Coalition has divided Jackson County into 12 sectors for substance
abuse prevention. Those are youth, parents, business community, media,
schools, law enforcement agencies, youth service organizations,
religious organizations, civic groups, health care professionals,
state and county government, and others.

According to date, he said, motivational speakers are not as effective
as science-based programs in schools on a weekly basis.

"The program we've been using is the second largest of 150
science-based prevention programs available, and with it, 6,000 middle
school students in Jackson County have learned the dangers of underage
drinking and other drugs," he said.

He said once the Coalition has system in place for drug prevention, it
will do the same sort of planning for other areas of concern.

The Coalition also is the fiscal agent for Court Appointed Special
Advocates and the Partnership for a Healthy Jackson County. A
nonprofit organization, the Coalition receives funding through an
annual fund-raiser, donations and grants.