Because of Tyrone Backer’s visions and the efforts of CCAD, youth and families in Miami-Dade County have the lowest rates of substance abuse in Florida. The Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey reported in its 2003 results that Miami-Dade Students in grades 6-12 reported the lowest rate of drug use of any of the 60 participating Florida counties. When the Miami data was broken-out by race/ethnicity African American students showed lower rates of drug use than their white counter parts. The following will detail results:

Source: The Miami Coalition School Survey- Priority One - Prevention Plan 2003

The following will outline the services that CCAD provided in 2003/2004 to help produce these remarkable results.

Fun Day Blast: offered 300 elementary age children the opportunity to participate in positive activities designed to help children manage their leisure time. Unsupervised free time for target youth is a potential “land mind” for problems. It is during these times that a high incidence of juvenile problem behavior occurs. CCAD has recognized this and sponsors “Fun Day Blasts” for area youth during all teacher workdays throughout the school year. CCAD offered different wholesome activities on teacher workdays to keep kids interested and widen their horizons. Activities include tours of Alligator Farm, Bowling, Parrot Jungle, Monkey Jungle, Metro Park Zoo, Islands of Adventure; an IHOP pancake breakfast.

Safety Kids offered 3500 children the opportunity to experience a theatrical production presented annually with a drug-free message. Youth are recruited from local schools to sing, act and dance in an after-school alternative activity. This production is designed to influence participants and audiences alike to: “Play It Smart, and Stay Safe from Drugs.” Performances are held at different locations throughout the Miami-Dade community. Talented inner-city youth aged 12-18 and adult volunteers participate in the production of Safety Kids. Typically youth from elementary, middle and high schools, as well as parents, attend performances at the Joseph Caleb Center, and North Miami Beach Theatre of Performing Arts.

The Anakangat Afterschool Program: offers 180 children in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade a positive environment to attend after school and during the summer, providing activities designed to keep children safe. Services hours occur between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the school year and 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. during the summer. Activities includes:

Academic Support

• Homework assistance

• Tutorial services

• Computer Lab

Cultural Activities

• Arts & crafts

• Dance

• Music

Recreational Activities

• Outdoor organized sports/games

• Basketball

• Football

150 area youth participated in the “Born To Be Drug-Free” essay contest. This contest provided participants an opportunity to develop anti-drug themes and have the opportunity to win cash awards. An essential component of the essay contest activities are the celebration of the winner’s achievements, providing an affirmation of previously unrecognized talent.

36 families were provided the opportunity to participate in The Strengthening Families Program (SFP). SFP is a 14-session family skills training program that is designed to increase resilience and reduce risk factors for substance abuse, depression, violence, delinquency, and school failure for children living in Northwest Miami Dade County. The SFP curriculum includes three courses, Parent Skills Training, Children Skills Training, and Family Life Skills Training that are taught in 14, 3 ½-hour sessions, one evening a week from 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. During the first hour from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m., a full dinner is served as the families collectively discuss program homework assignments while facilitating positive social bonds between the families. Following dinner from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., parents and children participate in separate classes that are facilitated by two program facilitators. In the separate sessions, parents learn to increase desired behaviors in their children by learning skills such as the utilization of attention and rewards, clear communication, effective discipline, substance abuse education, problem solving, and setting limits. In their sessions, children learn social skills such as effective communication, anger and stress management, peer pressure resistance, consequences of substance abuse, and compliance with parental and family rules. From 7:30 – 8:30 p.m., the families again meet collectively to practice structured family activities discussing topics including family meetings, communication skills, effective discipline, reinforcement of positive behaviors, and jointly planning family activities. The program design significantly helps families make genuine and sustained modifications in their family interactions by allowing parents and children to learn their roles and skills separately and then coming together to practice those skills in a collective family environment.