Mercer Island Youth Drug Prevention Group Wins State Prevention Award

The Mercer Island Communities That Care Coalition, run by the city's Youth and Family Services Department, received an exemplary service award at the 2012 Washington State Prevention Summit on Nov. 5 for work to reduce underage drug and alcohol use in the community.

The award was issued by the Washington State Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery and presented by Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen. CTC was nominated for recognition in the category of Exemplary Substance Abuse Prevention. Specific mention was made of the Mercer Island Underage Drinking Ordinance supported by the coalition--the first ordinance of its kind enacted in the state.

The effectiveness of CTC depends upon volunteers from all sectors of the community coming together to prevent harm to youth from drugs and alcohol.

"This award is really a recognition of the efforts of all CTC members and those City leaders who worked on the ordinance including Police Chief Ed Holmes, Police Operations Commander David Jokinen, City Attorney Katie Knight, and the City Council--special mention goes to Deputy Mayor Dan Grausz who was instrumental in bringing the idea of an underage drinking ordinance back to the table," says CTC Project Director Derek Franklin.

For additional information on CTC or to get involved with drug and alcohol prevention efforts on the Island, visit http://www.mercerisland-ctc.com/.