Community Coalitions

Every member of every community deserves a safe, healthy environment. We can only keep our neighborhoods and youth healthy by involving ourselves in community projects, reporting unhealthy activities, and, most of all, watching for signals that our own children are either remaining involved in positive daily activities at school and home. Abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs affect even those without children, as it impacts businesses, health care and many other community concerns.

LRADAC has assisted various communities in the Midlands in addressing community issues and concerns by creating community coalitions.

Coalitions are used to address a variety of alcohol and other drug-related problems and serve as a valuable resource for everything a community wishes to accomplish. "A coalition is an alliance of individuals, groups, parties, or states that come together, join forces, or form partnerships, usually for a specific or common purpose." (Community Coalition How to Guide, 2001).

LRADAC has been instrumental in providing programmatic oversight, funding strategies and science-based technical assistance to aid communities in addressing substance use and abuse, risk behaviors, crime and health matters. By partnering with parents, schools, government, law enforcement, health care, businesses, civic groups, church and youth, LRADAC has helped communities to become creative, action-centered groups that are making a difference in strengthening families and improving the well-being of youth in Lexington and Richland Counties.

Read on to learn about the coalitions currently in our community. If you would like to talk to us about creating a coalition in your community, please contact LRADAC.

(803) 726-9411