Programs and Services At-a-Glance
Lawton Area Prevention Resource Center (Lawton APRC)
The Lawton Area Prevention Resource Center covers a seven county area to include the following counties: Comanche, Cotton, Harmon, Jackson, Jefferson, Stephens, and Tillman. Prevention staff supports 14 coalitions throughout the area by providing technical assistance in the form of assessments, strategic planning, coalition building, and development of environmental strategies to prevent substance abuse.
Ardmore Area Prevention Resource Center (Ardmore APRC)
The Ardmore Area Prevention Resource Center covers an eight county area to include the following counties: Bryan, Carter, Johnston, Love, Marshall, Murray, and Pontotoc. Prevention staff supports 10 coalitions by providing technical assistance in much the same way as the Lawton APRC. Both Area Prevention Resource Centers are supported by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Lawton/Ft. Sill Community Coalition (LFSCC)
Initiated in 1987, the Lawton/Ft. Sill Community Coalition is the oldest grassroots community organization in the United States to address continuously the issues of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse and other risky behaviors. The coalition includes more than 50 members and represents all community sectors to include youth, parents, civic groups, law enforcement, government, business, media, healthcare, social services, senior citizens, the faith community, and schools. The coalition is working a 5-year strategic plan that includes the following committees:
This group revisits its strategic plan annually to ensure proper assessment of the community’s issues and concerns. The Lawton/Ft. Sill Community Coalition is supported by a Drug Free Community Support Grant which is generated by the Center of Substance Abuse Prevention by way of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This grant requires $125,000 in matching funds annually from the local community and other non-federal sources.
The Lawton/Ft. Sill Youth Coalition (LFSYC)
The Lawton/Ft. Sill Youth Coalition is the youth arm of the Lawton/Ft. Sill Community Coalition. The coalition generates community awareness around issues of substance abuse. This year they conducted a Youth Speak Out, Girl Power!, and participated in a training camp focused on the need for ordinances that penalize adults for supplying alcohol and the location where underage drinking takes place. The youth coalition is supported by the City of Lawton Community Development Block Grant Funds, the United Way, and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, a department of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Too Much To Lose (2M2L)
A prevention specialist on staff at Wichita Mountains Prevention Network serves as the Southwest Area Coordinator for the 2M2L initiative. Counties in the service area include Beckham, Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Garvin, Grady, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Jefferson, Kiowa, Stephens, Tillman, and Washita. Members of the LFSYC have created a 2M2L club. Its efforts are parallel to goals set in the LFSCC Underage Drinking Committee and the LFSYC, which comprehensively work to reduce underage drinking. Too Much To Lose is an initiative of the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.
Service to Science Academy
The Southwest Center for Prevention Technologies has accepted the Teen Intern Program as one of their programs for their Service to Science Academy. The Teen Intern program was previously known as the Teen Trainer Program that evolved into what is now the Lawton/Ft. Sill Youth Coalition. We are reviving the Teen Intern program and seeking to eventually add it to the national registry of evidence-based programs as a follow-up to participating in the academy.
The United Way of Lawton/Fort Sill
The United Way supports our youth coalition efforts. Recently, United Way support made it possible for us to send youth coalition members to a training camp that focused heavily on underage drinking prevention and ordinances that support this effort. With future funding, we hope that the United Way will support aspects of the Teen Intern program including stipends, training, and recruitment.