Pubdate: Thu, 29 May 2003 Source: Monroe County Advocate and Democrat (TN) Contact: 2003 East Tennessee Network. Website: http://www.monroe.xtn.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1864 Author: Melissa Kinton Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION COUNCIL WANTS MORE FUNDING FOR SERVICES MADISONVILLE - The Monroe County Coordinating Council for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment may have to ask the county for additional funds this year to serve the increasing number of people needing help. The council currently gets all of its funding from county D.U.I. fines and has never received additional money from the county. During a recent meeting, council co-chair Barbara Levin asked the council what it thought about requesting additional funding. I think it would be totally justified said Kim Yount of the Monroe County Family Resource Center. The council agreed for Levin to try to set up a meeting to formally make the request. More funding may be necessary because the council did not receive a $5,000 grant it had applied for from the East Tennessee Foundation. Program Coordinator Laurie Ashcroft said she thought the council did not get the grant due to issues regarding aftercare and budget. The biggest obstacle we have as volunteers is where are we going to get them help, asked Grace Kowantz of CONTACT Helpline. Ashcroft is working on a 150-page methamphetamine and inhalant grant that could bring as much as $300,000 to the program. However, she said she did not think the council would get that grant either because of the same issues. She also said she needs more information from the county regarding the number of meth labs busted this year and last year before she can complete the form. Ashcroft later requested a workshop or training on grant writing to help improve the council's chances of receiving grants. Low scores were reported on more than 400 area alcohol awareness screenings, with a substantial number of people scoring zero, on a scale of zero to 30. Scoring close to 30 on the test would indicate a serious problem with alcohol. It was a success for awareness, said Hiwassee guidance counselor Lawrence Salisbury regarding the screening at the college in April. National Alcohol Awareness Screening is primarily to provide awareness to the community and not necessarily to find alcoholics. Ashcroft proposed the council start a group at Sequoyah High School to meet at least once a week. She has the curriculum but will need money for materials and follow up. Sweetwater resource officer Jim Kile stated 293 students signed up for Prom Promise this year. Each senior English class wrote a eulogy for their best friend in an exercise designed to encourage the students not to drive under the influence. There were no incidents at the prom this year. Six students even called Kile to let him know they made it home safely. I need new videos and visual aides said Kile. MADD does a presentation at county schools every year and has decided to release a new video each year. Kile said the countys materials are extremely outdated and have lost their shock value. Kile also reported a canine check in Sweetwater High School last month did not turn up any drugs. Ashcroft stated that referrals from the Monroe County jail have been increasing. Shes working to form an Alcoholics Anonymous group there. Shes also getting referrals for community service work from the court system. The court is starting to look at us as a referral service, she said. In other business, there was money set aside in the council budget for an assistant to the director. Ashcroft requested a person be hired one or two days a week to help out with paper work and to answer phones. The next meeting of the council will be June 25 in the conference room at the Monroe County School Board from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager