Thanks to Community Efforts to Keep Youth Drug Free

By Samara Kimmelman

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County (UPC) has much to be grateful for in its first two years as an independent non-profit. More than 50 community organizations partner with UPC working to keep youth and young adults safe and drug free.

But as UPC’s Youth Council has wisely noted, “It Takes YOU to CREATE a Better YOUTH.” All of us – parents, youth, teachers, business leaders, politicians – are needed to make our community a healthy place for our young people.

For small non-profits like UPC that also means a continual effort to remain financially sustainable, where programs and services are able to be long lasting and self-sufficient while still being effective and successful.

I have had an up-close look at this as I am completing an internship with UPC as part of the Masters of Public Health program curriculum at George Mason University. My internship has focused on sustainability, which has allowed me to gain a new appreciation for the hard work that UPC does day in and day out to increase funding, support, and recognition when aiming to accomplish the mission of becoming sustainable.

It is important to continually thank all of those who have helped UPC become what it is today, as well as to express UPC’s mission and the need for continuous support throughout the community for the days to come.

For the Unified Prevention Coalition, serving a community of 1.3 million residents, it can be difficult to show measurable outcomes immediately. UPC’s focus is prevention, and it’s hard to show people what you are trying to stop from happening. People want to contribute to groups that are successful in doing what they promise.

How do you show the number of youth who did not have alcohol-related car crashes because they did not drink and drive after they saw UPC ads and posters all around their campus and restaurants with blood alcohol content (BAC) levels explained; or the number of young students who did not end up in the ER because they decided against trying synthetic marijuana after their parents discussed its harms with them after reading a UPC fact card available in their school or physician’s office?

Throughout my internship, I have quickly learned that there is no fast and magical solution to maintaining the long-term future of a non-profit. When it comes down to it and after meeting with national and local experts, I believe that becoming sustainable really requires experienced and knowledgeable staff who have hearts filled with passion and dedication, and have the ability to collaborate with the community. Collaboration, the hallmark of UPC, is vital for sustainability.  

UPC thrives on community collaboration, whether it is in-kind donations of services, time to building new partnerships, or helping like-minded groups network as long as UPC is able to make our community a better, healthier, and safer place. The determination and motivation to serve Fairfax County, our community, allows its collaborative prevention strategies to become sustainable and long lasting.

UPC has been extremely fortunate and thankful for all of the community collaboration it receives and hopes that continuing to work together and supporting substance abuse prevention efforts that we can make a difference.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving and as a UPC team member, I hope this message of thanks and gratitude for our community can encourage you to support a local non-profit that speaks to your heart. Take the time during this Thanksgiving holiday to reflect and appreciate the community you live in. Remember, community change can only be accomplished when there is a community-wide effort to make the change, and YOU support the non-profits where you live. 

This year UPC is a partner in the #GivingTuesday campaign, a global effort to channel the generous spirit of the holiday season to inspire action around charitable giving. #GivingTuesday is Dec. 3, so please consider a tax-deductible donation to UPC. See the http://www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org/calendar/icalrepeat.detail/2013/12/03/242/-/givingtuesday.html UPC website to learn ways that your contribution can make a difference.

Samara Kimmelman, (left in top photo), a GMU graduate student, also serves as the Youth Council coordinator for UPC. She is a graduate of Radford University.

The Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County is a nonprofit organization with more than 50 community partners working together to keep youth and young adults safe and drug-free. Visit www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org and www.facebook.com/unifiedpreventioncoalition. Follow the group on Twitter at www.twitter.com/keepyouthsafe.