The SDCC is a network of community members working together to ensure a safe, healthy, and substance-free Southern Dutchess community for youth and their families.
OUR MISSION:
To support prevention efforts by identifying and reducing risk behaviors surrounding substance use and underage drinking in Dutchess County and the larger Mid-Hudson Valley.
OUR VISION:
A community fully engaged in health, wellness, and prevention initiatives focused on empowering youth and families through policy, practices, and programs.
OUR MEETINGS:
During this time of rebuilding the coalition, meetings are being held virtually to provide maximum flexibility for coalition members. Please contact us to find out more.
Lead Agency – CAPE of Dutchess County, Inc.
CAPE is a contract agency of the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health & the Division of Youth Services. We are licensed by the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) as a prevention provider. The Council is also a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
OUR HISTORY & PROJECTS:
The Southern Dutchess Community Coalition (SDCC) was conceived in 2002 when the Council received a five-year Drug-Free Communities grant. This federal funding was awarded through the Office on National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and managed by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA). The second phase of the grant was awarded in the fall of 2014. The lapse between the first five and the second five years of the grant was a time of rejuvenation and growth for the coalition. During that period, it was rebuilt without funding to ensure its sustainability. Those efforts were successful, and the DFC recognized the coalition for its robust sector involvement and focus on sustainability during its federal audit in 2015.
The SDCC created and developed a county-wide youth health rally event in 2016. This special event gathers 9th-grade students from schools throughout Dutchess County to focus on behavioral health, with an emphasis on substance use disorder risk and protective factors for adolescents. Each year at the rally, there has been an amazing turnout of around 1500 youth, along with 20+ local vendors offering info and resources related to health and wellness. Students get to explore vendor booths, enjoy a live band and music from a K104 DJ, and listen to speakers sharing messages related to prevention and recovery.
The SDCC, under contract with the county and with guidance from SAMHSA, develops and administers the Dutchess County Youth Survey. CAPE delivers this survey to all 8th, 10th, and 12th graders at participating public schools in our county. This initiative began a decade ago to collect data about youth risk and protective factors that would guide the county and providers in developing programming and interventions informed by the youth that would be served by them. The coalition also partnered with the New York National Guard to complete targeted community assessments in 2016. In addition, the SDCC incubated a pilot project between WCSD, CAPE, and the East Fishkill Town Court to refer youth to Teen Intervene (an alternative to arrest for substance use and/or possession). The SDCC partners with the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Department, to conduct compliance checks during key times of the year—prom, graduation, summer, and the holidays.
The project coordinator for the coalition was chosen to sit on the national ad-hoc committee to review the Alive at 25 curricula. The SDCC has also lent its support to a district-wide professional development day at schools, educating 900+ staff members in the WCSD on the opioid epidemic. The coalition has an arts and education committee that offers free activities for youth at local libraries and other participating venues. The coalition enjoys a creative partnership with a local media team, resulting in public health campaigns spanning print, digital, television, and social media platforms. In collaboration with the media team, the SDCC has launched campaign messaging including “UnWasted,” “Don’t Risk It,” and “Talk About It.”
READY TO GET INVOLVED?
You can reach out to us at sdcc@capedc.org or 845-765-8301 x116, or you can submit your information via our online form below: