Excelsior Springs S.A.F.E. - Supporting Abuse Free Environments

Excelsior Springs S.A.F.E. Supporting Abuse Free Environments has been a viable community-based prevention team since 1993.  S.A.F.E. has developed and implemented comprehensive prevention strategies that target and engage the entire population.           
  
 S.A.F.E. members include key community leaders representing all spokes of the community wheel and many of our core members have been supporting the team since it was re-formed in 1993.  The team has a sound leadership structure with two co-chairs (one school and one community), a secretary, and a treasurer, along with the District’s Title IV coordinator; they make up the Executive Committee.  Team strategies make every effort to include the entire area population. 

Local law enforcement has been extremely supportive. They have conducted numerous compliance checks and the Police Chief, John McGovern, has assisted with the tobacco retailer education program and helps to distribute the Those Who Host Lose the Most social marketing materials.  They have taken a strong “zero tolerance” stance and have served as the catalyst behind passage of our local ordinances.   Team members have worked hard to market those ordinances.
 
S.A.F.E has enjoyed many successes in our 12-year history that include:

S.A.F.E. developed, and continues to coordinate the Overtime Program that provides safe and structured drug-free alternative activities after home sporting events.  S.A.F.E. has hosted community education programs on Methamphetamine, Club Drugs, Gateway Drugs, Developmental Assets and Bullying.  S.A.F.E. also supports After Prom program, YouthFriends, DARE, High School Docu – Dramas, Health Fairs, and pay’s registration to send High School youth to numerous Teen Institutes

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Middle School students from throughout the Northland gathered Feb. 23 for Operation Smoke Screen (OSS), an interactive event sponsored by Youth With Vision to teach youth about advocacy. The event was held at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty, Mo.

Excelsior Springs Middle School students who attended the event are (Front, left to right:) Cody Tobin and Dustin Wellman. (Back, far left) Counselor Gail Bush accompanied the students. Jessica Casey, Kassie Murray and Youth With Vision member Dessa Johnston (sophomore.)

OSS included workshops in print and broadcast media followed by a mock city council meeting focused on a possible smoking ban in restaurants in  “AnyWhere USA.” Students were assigned to be part of every element of the community, both pro and anti the ban, as well as city council members and media reporters.  Each community group had the opportunity to present their opinion on the ban. After an initial tie vote and further presentations and discussions, the council voted to institute the ban.