Prevention and Positive Youth Development

The Clackamas County Prevention Coalition (CCPC) is a collaboration of partners representing county government, schools, youth serving organizations, law enforcement agencies, civic and volunteer groups, health-care professionals, and other stakeholders in the community who are interested in promoting healthy, safe communities and positive youth development, with a focus on reducing underage drug and alcohol use and associated harms. We do this by raising awareness, enhancing skills, providing support, altering physical environments to reduce risky behaviors, and modifying or creating policies and strive to center youth voice and equity in these activities.

We also work with partners to promote the principles of Restorative Justice and advance an alternative approach to disciplinary action for student substance use. We host in-person and online trainings for school staff and community partners to build a better understanding of these principles and set the stage for change. A Restorative Justice approach can reduce suspensions and racial disparities in discipline while simultaneously raising student achievement levels.

CCPC meets the third Wednesday of every month from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Development Services Building (150 Beavercreek Road,, Oregon City, OR 97045 map) in room 119. Diverse perspectives are welcome and anyone interested is encouraged to attend and join.

Contact Brian McCrady at bmccrady@clackamas.us or 503-348-4261 or Elizabeth White at ewhite@clackamas.us or 503-402-4087 for more information.

The CCPC supports local community coalitions in North Clackamas, Milwaukie, Oregon City and West Linn and convenes countywide prevention enthusiasts for ongoing project partnerships.

Positive Community Norms is an evidence-based strategy that raises awareness and reduces underage drinking and drug use by reinforcing positive parenting practices and changing misperceptions about youth use. Most people think the majority of teenagers drink alcohol and/or use drugs, but the true norm is most teens are making healthy choices. Building awareness about Positive Community Norms is way for people to learn and understand the “real” norm – changing a youth’s decision to start in the first place. To be a part of the majority group, youth will choose not to use drugs and/or alcohol.

In the classroom setting, we provide a lesson on Positive Community Norms followed by a poster assignment, demonstrating the student’s new understanding.

PreventNet Community Schools is a school-based service system designed to improve outcomes for children, youth and their families by creating a web of support among schools, non-profit agencies, community members, local businesses and local government. Prevention and early intervention services in local schools include addressing poor academic performance, truancy, family management problems, alcohol and other drug use, poverty/homelessness, and negative peer association. Each of these sites is the result of collaboration and partnership between Clackamas County, the school, and a local non-profit organization that delivers the services and houses Program Site Coordinators.

PreventNet is funded through grants awarded to the Children, Family and Community Connections, by the Oregon Department of Education, Youth Development Division.

Todos Juntos and Northwest Family Services operate services in 10 schools across 7 school districts in Clackamas County.

The primary goal of the School Resource Coordinator (SRC) is to improve student achievement, attendance, behavior and other skills for healthy development free of substance abuse. Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors provide culturally specific, confidential and trauma informed alcohol and drug assessments in a convenient school setting. Referrals are made to outpatient addictions and mental health services, outpatient adolescent Substance Use Disorders (SUD) treatment and recovery services as deemed appropriate. Youth and their families receive personalized navigation into a diverse network of support systems, including: individual, group and/or family counseling; alcohol and drug education; recognition of values and attitudes; stress management; anger management; smoking cessation; life skills training; effective refusal skills development; relapse prevention and ongoing case management. SRC services are funded through Children, Family and Community Connections Division and provided by our partner, Northwest Family Services.

Contact Michele Bradfute, CADC II – Student Resource Coordinator mbradfute@nwfs.org or 971-312-7111.

Most Oregon and Clackamas County teens are not using cannabis, yet 47% of Clackamas County eleventh graders in 2020 said cannabis was easy to get. To protect young minds you can start talking with youth about underage cannabis use and keep cannabis secure. 

Securing your cannabis keeps small children and teens safe from misuse or accidental ingestion. To obtain a secure locking container for cannabis or other drugs contact the Clackamas County Prevention Coalition at 503-348-4261.

Certified Prevention Specialists present marijuana education courses, developed by CLEAR (Children Learning through Education And Research) Alliance in partnership with law enforcement, schools, treatment, and medical professionals in Oregon. Curriculum is available for youth and adults ages 13 and above in a three hour course. The program has been piloted and evaluated and is continuously updated to provide the most current facts about marijuana.

Contact Brian McCrady at bmccrady@clackamas.us or 503-348-4261.