​We are working with Pathways Behavioral Services on the Iowa Partnerships for Success (IPFS) Grant to reduce underage drinking. This project goes beyond educating youth about the risks of underage drinking. It involves changing the alcohol landscape or environment that includes limiting the pro-alcohol messages our youth see on a daily basis. According to data from the Center for Alcohol Marketing and Youth, “a national study published in January 2006 concluded that greater exposure to alcohol advertising contributes to an increase in drinking among underage youth. Specifically, for each additional ad a young person saw (above the monthly average of 23), he/she drank 1% more. For each additional dollar per capita spent on alcohol advertising in a local market (above the national average of $6.80 per capita), young people drank 3% more.” So although for health and legal reasons, youth need to wait until age 21 to drink, they start seeing alcohol ads that depict alcohol use as fun and people who use alcohol as financially successful, attractive, athletic, and popular as soon as they start running errands with parents, watching TV, or surfing the internet.      
Our hope is to decrease the number of youth who drink and drink in large quantities by partnering with local retailers to reduce the number of alcohol ads youth are exposed to  in our local grocery and convenience stores. We plan to do this by visiting stores and identifying effective ways to make the environment more youth-friendly.  This could range from keeping all ads at least 3 feet above the ground or away from candy or ice cream, to keeping alcohol promotions or displays to one area of the store. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions or are willing to help. Volunteers are needed to serve on this committee, help youth to conduct and analyze assessments, talk with store owners or managers, provide snacks for a youth group meeting,  and recognize those who make changes.

‘Best Practices for Alcohol Advertisements’ is one of five underage drinking strategies being organized by Chickasaw Connections through the IPFS Grant. This project is funded by the Iowa Department of Public Health through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information on the IPFS Grant, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/substance-abuse/programs/ipfs. For information on Chickasaw County’s project and how to get involved, visit our project page, contact us, or contact me at the number or email below. 

This article was written by:
Carol Hopp, CHES, CPS
Partnerships for Success Coordinator
Pathways Behavioral Services
(563) 380-4032 | carol.hopp@pathwaysb.org

From June through September, we teamed up with area law enforcement and Pathways Behavioral Services on the Iowa Partnerships for Success (IPFS) Grant to curb underage drinking. Over this time, officers completed an additional 66 hours of special enforcement efforts. This initiative gave them resources to increase patrols at times when there's a greater likelihood of underage drinking through ‘party patrols,’ and to visit the bars and taverns more regularly with 'bar walkthroughs.'

We believe enforcement of underage drinking laws is an important part of our underage drinking prevention plan. Law enforcement resources are limited and adding a few extra officers at times when underage drinking is likely can keep the department from being undermanned. Additional resources also allow for a more immediate response to complaints and concerns related to underage drinking. In addition to reports of youth accessing alcohol on private property, we continue to hear reports of youth purchasing alcohol from alcohol retailers. Walkthroughs give law enforcement the opportunity to visit bars and taverns to deter youth from attempting to purchasing alcohol and to remind alcohol servers of their legal and ethical responsibility to keep alcohol out of the hands of those who are under 21. Over the summer, the Sheriff’s Department visited all 9 bars and taverns in their jurisdiction at least twice.  The Nashua and New Hampton Police also conduct walkthroughs on a regular basis.

The hope is for heightened enforcement efforts to initially, increase those who report underage drinking situations, and in the long run, decrease underage drinking rates and related problems. Less underage drinking parties will, in turn, lead to less sexual assaults, injuries, crashes, and ultimately lead to less issues with over consumption, addiction, and mental health, all problems law enforcement responds to regularly.

Starting this month, area law enforcement will continue these increased enforcement efforts at times when underage drinking has been reported including school breaks, prom, graduation, and community events.
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These enforcement activities are one of five underage drinking strategies we are implementing through the IPFS Grant. This project is funded by the Iowa Department of Public Health through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information on the IPFS Grant, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/substance-abuse/programs/ipfs. For information on Chickasaw County’s project and how to get involved, visit www.chickasawconnections.org or contact Carol Hopp at carol.hopp@pathwaysb.org. To report concerns and incidents of underage drinking, please contact your local law enforcement office:
●         Chickasaw County Sheriff: (641) 394-3121                                                               
●         Nashua Police: (641) 435-2068
●         New Hampton Police: (641) 394-3241

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​We are excited to announce we are partnering with New Hampton, Nashua-Plainfield, and St. Joseph’s Schools with funding from Pathways Behavioral Services through the Iowa Partnerships for Success (IPFS) Grant to implement the All Stars educational program this school year! All Stars is an evidence/research-based program. This means, it has been shown to keep youth from engaging in risky behaviors like underage drinking for longer.  All Stars focuses on what research has shown to be the 5 most influential strategies to delay the onset of risky behavior: normative beliefs, idealism, personal commitment, parent/adult attention, and bonding.

All Stars is unique in that it gives youth an opportunity to plan a future for themselves in ways they haven't before. Along with their peers, they will think about what they want and don't want in their future and how risky behaviors such as drinking alcohol, using tobacco, and fighting will affect their future. All Stars will challenge and engage our youth through an art project, games, video making and large and small group discussions. All Stars also gives parents or caregivers the opportunity to talk with their child about what they want most for their future. Through four assignments, adults will have the chance to see what their child is thinking for themselves and their future and how they can support it.  

All Stars will be implemented during a pivotal time for youth, middle school. During  middle school, youth experience developmental changes resulting in a greater desire for belonging or "fitting in" among peers, and start to question and push for independence from parents and other authority figures. According to the 2014 Iowa Youth Survey, 85% of  Chickasaw County 6th graders report never having more than a  few sips of alcohol. By 8th grade, this percentage is down to 70% and by 11th grade, it drops to  38%. The three schools have arranged to deliver the program in 7th grade, before most kids have started drinking, and close to the time they will start experiencing peer pressure. We greatly appreciate these three schools’ willingness to integrate All Stars into their schedules!

An evaluation will be conducted each year to measure what impact All Stars has on our students. We are confident this program will lead to positive changes and look forward to sharing the results with the community. The IPFS Grant is funded by the Iowa Department of Public Health, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information on the IPFS Grant, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/substance-abuse/programs/ipfs.

Carol Hopp, CHES,  CPS
Partnerships for Success Coordinator
Pathways Behavioral Services
823 W. Main St.
New Hampton, IA 50659
563-380-4032