About Us

Catalyst Coalition of Napa County

Mission: To use our community's collaborative strength to address and combat

underage use of alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and other drugs in Napa County

About the Catalyst Coalition
& Strategic Planning

Background

In an effort to engage Napa County in community-wide planning, in 2005 the Napa County Health & Human Services Agency collaborated with the Napa County Office of Education to bring a Drug Free Communities Support Program funded by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to Napa County. The project was named the Catalyst Coalition and engaged community members in coalition building efforts to prevent underage alcohol and marijuana use throughout the county.

Using four City Teams ( American Canyon, Napa, Calistoga and St. Helena) that involve a broad range of community stakeholders including parents, service providers, law enforcement, policy makers, community members and others, the Catalyst Coalition engaged in the planning and implementation of a Strategic Prevention Plan.

In 2006-2007, each City Team engaged in the planning process utilizing a nationally recognized planning model (see below) to identify the substance abuse issues impacting their communities and ways to address those problems at the local level. The 5 steps that make up the SPF assist communities in developing the infrastructure needed for a community-based, public health approach leading to effective and sustainable reductions in alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use and abuse.

The Strategic Prevention Framework Continuum:

Assessment: Collect data to define problems, resources, and readiness within a geographic area to address needs and gaps.

Capacity Building: Mobilize and/or build capacity within a geographic area to address needs.

Planning: Develop a comprehensive strategic plan that includes policies, programs, and practices creating a logical, data-driven plan to address problems identified in Step 1.

Implementation: Implement evidence-based prevention programs, policies, and practices.

Evaluation: Measure the impact of the implemented programs, policies, and practices.

Additionally, Sustainability and Cultural Competence have been added to the core of the framework as both are necessary in developing an effective coalition.

Strategic GOALS

To reduce underage alcohol use in Napa County
To increase the age of first alcohol use in Calistoga
To reduce marijuana use among youth in the City of Napa (expanding in 2012 to Calistoga, St. Helena and American Canyon)
To reduce the prevalence of DUI incidents within the City of Napa

To accomplish these priority goals, City Teams will work to meet a variety of Long Term and Intermediate Outcomes, including:

To increase perception of parental disapproval of alcohol and drug use
To reduce the age of onset of alcohol and drug use
To decrease youth perception of alcohol and drugs being easily accessible
To increase youth perception of alcohol and drugs being harmful
To decrease law enforcement's calls for service for underage party dispersal
To increase roving DUI patrols and checkpoints
To increase funding and resources to produce results

Strategic priorities were determined based on:

Available local data
Prevention sciences
Local events and political opportunity
Community expectations and demands
Compatibility with the mission and funding of Napa County’s Health & Human Services and the Catalyst Coalition

Capacity of Catalyst Coalition and Health & Human Services to implement the recommendations in the strategic plan.

The strategies identified in the strategic plan are based on recommendation from the Institute of Medicine, The Surgeon General’s Report on Underage Drinking, and the Substance Abuse Mental Health Administration among others. The strategies are grounded in best practice utilizing the most current research information regarding effective approaches for addressing alcohol and drug problems.

Today, City Teams are working on many projects including updating/revising the local ordinances (Social Host Ordinance) that hold adults accountable for underage drinking parties, hosting Town Hall and other community awareness events, and coordinating with other prevention providers to support and encourage community-wide support of our efforts.

The Coalition's City Teams each meet monthly and are always welcoming of curious or interested community members, to help or to just learn more. Visit a meeting by calling our office or reviewing upcoming agendas for times and locations in your city (see Calendar of Events page for more information.)

The Catalyst Coalition City Teams:
(for meeting and contact information, please go to the "Calendar of Events" page)

Calistoga Catalyst / REUDL Team
Anne Williams & Chief Jonathan Mills ~ Co-Chairs

St. Helena Prevention Partnership
Lisa Toller ~ Chair

Napa City Team
Jennifer Stewart ~ Chair

American Canyon Partnership
George Vasquez & Steve Perry ~ Co-Chairs

Equipo Latino (Spanish only)
Belinda Ruiz & Celeste Fuller ~ Co-Chairs

Together, we serve as a Catalyst for community-wide change in Napa County.

This collaborative project is funded as a Drug-Free Communities Support Program by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and is administered by the Napa County Office of Education, with support from the Napa County Health & Human Services.