HELPING COMMUNITIES COMBAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE SINCE 1990

In Atlantic County there are 18 Municipal Alliances representing 22 of our 23 communities. We have a 95% participation rate, which is higher than the state average. Corbin City is the only local municipality that does not participate because it lacks both a school and a police department, through which most alliance grant programs are coordinated. There are over 530 Municipal Alliances in the state of New Jersey.

The County Alliance provides support to the local Municipal Alliances and oversees their activities. Established in 1990, the Municipal Alliances are community based committees which address their own community's substance abuse needs and problems through prevention education programming.

Funding for the Alliance program is provided through the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse via the distribution of DEDR funds, which are fines collected from persons convicted of a drug related offense. Each Municipal Alliance must match their grant with 25% cash and 75% in-kind moneys. Grants in Atlantic County are generally small, with base grants ranging from $5,900.00 to $25,300.00. Atlantic County receives a base grant of $241,5000.00 each year for prevention programming. These funds are distributed to the 18 local Municipal Alliances.

ALLIANCE MEMBERS TRAINING & COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Provide substance abuse prevention education opportunities for all County and Municipal Alliance members through meetings or workshops on specific drug and alcohol abuse prevention subjects. Support the Municipal Alliances through attendance at countywide community events or specific municipal events. Provide and/or distribute brochures and prevention education materials upon request.

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION
Conduct an annual Volunteer Recognition dinner, wherein all volunteers are invited, and an individual volunteer from each Municipal Alliance is recognized for their exemplary service to their own community. This event will also feature a keynote speaker who will present on Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention

PRIDE SURVEY
Periodically conduct a countywide survey for 8th grade students, in conjunction with the County Superintendent of Schools. This survey will assess the problem of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug use within the school and home, as well as school violence and the prevalence of weapon availability to school age youth.

DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) or RELATED POLICE PROGRAMS
Uniformed police officers provide twelve to sixteen weeks of structured drug abuse prevention education programming to different grade levels. Seventeen (17) Municipal Alliances representing twenty-one (21) communities provide funding to DARE or other related police programs.

PROJECT PROM or PROJECT GRADUATION
Municipal Alliance members, school organizations and volunteers stage all night events after the prom or graduation which offer a safe and substance free alternative for participants. Ten (10) Municipal Alliances representing thirteen (13) communities provide funding to Project Prom or Project Graduation.

PEER LEADERSHIP/SUPPORT/MEDIATION
School based programs train students to develop leadership, support or mediation skills and goal oriented behavior. Peer leaders or mediators become role models and helpers to other students. Eight (8) Municipal Alliances representing eleven (11) communities provide funding to these programs.

FOREST FRIENDS or BABES
Research based school approved programs for younger children. Trained teachers or presenters utilize puppets to teach self esteem skills, as well as skills necessary to resist peer pressure. Over 1/3 of our Municipal Alliances provide funding for Forest Friends or BABES.

INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMS
Small group activities for senior citizens, students and peer leaders are conducted to foster bridges between older and younger segments of the community. These programs encourage communication, cooperation and acceptance. More specific programming, such as Prescription Medication Abuse, is also provided directly to senior groups. Six (6) Municipal Alliance representing eight (8) communities provide funding for these types of programs.

MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE CHAIRPERSONS & COORDINATORS

• Chief Charles Smith, Chairperson, Absecon
• Keturah Jackson, Chairperson, Atlantic City
• Jerri Conn, Chairperson, Brigantine
• Tina Symanski, Chairperson, Buena, BVT, Weymouth Twp.
• Nanette Galloway, Chairperson, Egg Harbor City
• Judge H. Robert Switzer, Chairperson, Egg Harbor Twp.
• Mary Jane Kaiser, Chairperson, Folsom
• Chief Keith Spencer, Chairperson; Kathy Weber, Coordinator, Galloway Twp.
• Linda Duca, Chairperson/Coordinator, Hamilton Twp, Estell Manor
• Mimi Massara, Chairperson, Hammonton
• Tara Mikus, Chairperson/Coordinator, Linwood
• John DiNicola, Chairperson; Veronica Sanchez, Coordinator, Margate/Longport
• James Eagen, Chairperson, Mullica Twp.
• Jeffrey Bruckler, Acting Chairperson, Northfield
• Joseph Spellman, Chairperson; Davinna King, Coordinator, Pleasantville
• Gretchen Halfpenny, Co-Chairperson; Kass Piotrowski, Co-Chairperson, Port Republic
• Kathy Rosenberger, Chairperson/Coordinator, Somers Point
• Lt. Doug Biagi, Chairperson; Patty Kedziora, Coordinator, Ventnor

COUNTY ALLIANCE OBJECTIVES

1. Develop a County Annual Alliance Plan to allocate DEDR funds and ensure Municipal Alliance programs are consistent with the guidelines provided by the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.

2. Develop programs and provide networking and educational opportunities for the County Alliances.

3. Identify a network of community leaders to support, expansion, replication and development of successful community model programs throughout the County.

4. Coordinate projects among and within municipalities to assure cost effectiveness and avoid fragmentation and duplication.