Coalition Name:

Rio Grand Safe Communities Coalition

Coalition Funding Source: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA)

County or Geographic Boundary:

Bi-national tri-jurisdictional coalition, which includes El Paso, Texas, Juarez, Mexico and southern New Mexico

Mission Statement:

To promote health and safety and to reduce substance abuse, which enhances the quality of life for youth and adults living in the Paso del Norte Region of the Rio Grande

Coalition Representation Background:
The coalition is open to all individuals, agencies and organizations interested in improving the quality of life for those who live, work and play in this tri-state region. Current members represent health and human service organizations, law enforcement agencies, fire and EMS departments, city-county health departments, the county hospital district, universities, school systems, the recovery community, U.S and Mexican Consulates, Fort Bliss, governmental organizations to include elected officials, the Chamber of Commerce, youth and grass roots and faith communities.

Injury/Fatality Data Sources:

Texas Department of Health, TX DOT and Regional Trauma Registry

Public Information and Education and Other Program Activities:
Our focus is on data collection and sharing across the three states, development of media messages by youth for youth, and media and policy research as a part of our environmental strategies. A committee is working in support of Operation BRIDGE ( Bi-national Resources to Interrupt the Drinking Gateway Environment). The purpose of this initiative is to replicate the San Diego/Tijuana model prevention program addressing cross border binge drinking. The process has been initiated to introduce a local ordinance, which will prevent youth under the age of 18 from crossing into Mexico without parental permission. A brochure has been developed in English and Spanish identifying Texas, New Mexico and Mexico laws that pertain to underage drinking and drinking and driving. They will be distributed through the schools to youth throughout the region. The Coalition is also working with the local Chambers of Commerce to raise awareness of the impact of substance abuse within the business community. Among the events sponsored by the Coalition are youth retreats, Shattered Dreams, Bi-national Substance Abuse Prevention Conference, Red Ribbon event, Bi-national Conference on Substance Abuse & Traffic Crashes and Bi-national Holidays Ahead Drinking and Driving prevention campaigns. Students from our CARE (Communities Against Reckless Endangerment) youth group have developed and produced PSAs for our Medical examiner to raise community awareness regarding drinking and driving and seatbelt usage. Local youth have also developed and produced billboards, bus banners and radio and TV PSAs.

Program Outcome Measurements:
Coalition Successes - Expansion of membership participation, development of bi-national alcohol and drug surveillance system, enhancement of or change in public policy, reduction of numbers of U.S. youth crossing into MX for the purpose of underage drinking, change in attitude and behavior as indicated in youth alcohol and drug school surveys.

Evaluation Tool:
TCADA youth alcohol and drug school surveys, community traffic measurements, police reports, the Regional Trauma Registry and Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) surveys conducted quarterly at the border on weekend nights.

Contact Person: (If applicable, please include the Traffic Safety Specialist in your Texas Department of Transportation District)