Twelve advisory boards meet regularly to provide guidance, support and problem solving in their areas of expertise. This system of broad and involved governance has established a community-wide network with a single, sharp focus on fighting back against drug abuse. One major objective of the coalition is to increase the resilience of youth alcohol and drug use by strengthening families and increasing parental awareness and involvement in alcohol and drug prevention. The YSS encompasses a cadre of specially-trained professionals who deliver a continuum of prevention and intervention services to Santa Barbara s secondary schools. The Clean and Sober Calendar is a major initiative created to help Santa Barbara Fighting Back with its objective to curb excessive alcohol consumption and associated public mayhem.
Treatment lasts one year, during which the court reviews progress reported every two weeks.
Individuals who successfully graduate from the program, including multiple offenders, violent offenders and others not eligible for a pre-conviction drug court, are released from the criminal justice system. The program, which receives no public funding, has had a success rate of over 50 percent. Currently the coalition is dedicated to helping an area businessman, who lost a son to drugs, bond the community together in support of opening a new adolescent substance abuse treatment and prevention center. Their purpose is to bring communities and coalitions together for the prevention of violence, alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among youth. FCPS has developed a model program that provides the framework for implementing local action with countywide coordination utilizing the resources of a school system and its schools.