• Drug Free Communities (DFC) Initiative for a Safe and Healthy Hollywood
• Community Agency Support in the Recruitment of Youth
  - Youth engagement and mobilization
  - Leadership training
  - Incentives for participation

THE HOLLYWOOD DRUG-FREE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

In September 2005, the Hollywood community received a five-year, $500,000 grant from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to implement a Drug-Free Community Initiative in Hollywood.

This initiative will strengthen the leadership of local youth and adult residents, along with participants from Hollywood schools, youth-serving agencies, businesses, civic groups, faith organizations, law enforcement, government, other city programs and the media, to create a Hollywood community where youth are safe from exposure to substance use, pressure to use drugs and alcohol, and the negative health, social, educational and criminal consequences of substance use.

The initiative will build upon Hollywood's existing partnerships and network of services to:
1) reduce the use of drugs in public areas that youth frequent;
2) increase substance abuse prevention activities in schools and other youth programs;
3) establish more safe and drug-free activities for local high school-aged youth;
4) increase the use of youth-specific substance abuse treatment services; and
5) increase family communication about substance use and other risk behaviors.

The Division of Adolescent Medicine at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is the lead agency for the project, and, along with other participating agencies will match the grant award dollar for dollar.

There will be many, meaningful opportunities for all interested community members and organizations to participate in this important effort to make Hollywood a safer, healthier place.  Please join us in this exciting work for now and for the future of our youth.

Please contact Aida Cerda MPH or Coreena Hendrickson at (323) 669-2463, at the Division of Adolescent Medicine, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, for more information or to get involved in the Hollywood Drug-Free Community Initiative.

HCPAB YOUTH COMMITTEE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

- June 6, 2003: "Cops & Kids Conference Working Together for Peace on the Streets." This event was coordinated in collaboration with the Hollywood Police Department and held at the LA Convention Center. The purpose of the event was to open lines of communication and build relationships between youth and police. The entire Hollywood Area Gang Unit attended.

 --July 2003: Organized and established a STOP (Students Together Organized for Peace) group at Bancroft Middle School and LeConte Middle School. The STOP group is charged with developing and implementing peer-to-peer outreach and education activates that focus on violence prevention on campus and in the Hollywood community.

-October 2003:  Conducted a faculty/staff survey at Bancroft Middle School and LeConte Middle School to understand and address the key safety concerns on campus among faculty, youth, and parents.
 
-June 10, 2004: "Community Speak Out"
This event served as an opportunity for youth, families, community members, and local businesses to talk about safety in their community. An interactive discussion took place with guest panelists that included Captain Mike Downing, Richard Llewellyn from Councilmember Tom LaBonge's office, and Erik Sanjurjo from Councilmember Eric Garcetti's office. 
Parent leaders and staff representatives presented an extensive slide who that included photos of over 20 hot spots in the Hollywood community and recommended strategies to improve safety.

-November 18, 2004:  Community Meeting entitled "Responding to Your Safety Concerns in Your Schools and Neighborhoods".
This event served as an important follow-up to the Community Speak Out. LAPD announced that a camera would be installed in front of the McDonalds at Hollywood & Highland in response to community concerns related to the drug trafficking in the public restrooms.

-June 25, 2005:  "Neighborhood Beautification Day" that included the block area of South of Fountain, West of Wilton, North of Santa Monica, and East of Gordon. This block area was identified by youth, families, and community members as one area in Hollywood that would benefit most from a community clean up. 
Councilmember Eric Garcetti and Captain Ron Sanchez attended the event.  Free food, music, and gifts were provided to 100 participants including youth and families. 
The event was sponsored by the Hollywood LA Bridges collaborative which includes LA Community Development Department, Childrens Hospital, Home-SAFE, Hollywood-Wilshire YMCA, LACAAW is now Peace Over Violence, LACER's Bancroft and Hollywood Stars, Public Counsel, Team Works/LA Team Mentoring, Aztecs Rising, Family Development Network and the Police Activities League (PAL) of Hollywood.
 
-September 2005: Introduction of the Hollywood Drug-Free Community Initiative.