The 2014 AIDS Walk Delaware presented by Walgreens held its 28th Annual walk, the 10th year for the Rehoboth Walk, on Sept. 27. The AIDS Walk Delaware is a collaboration of AIDS Delaware and the Delaware HIV Consortium. The walk benefits people in Delaware living with HIV/AIDS, as well as preventative education, outreach and testing throughout the state.
From the Delaware State News - Sun. April 29, 2012
More than two dozen organizations have banned together to fight substance abuse among Kent County's teens and young adults by tailoring their efforts to each local venue. Fueled by $250,000 in federal grant money administered by the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, the Kent County Action Prevention Coalition is taking grass roots approach to the problem.
"These people are being very smart about this," said State Rep. Don Blakey, R-Camden, who represents several of the at-risk communities slated for help. "While their goal in each community is the same, they realize each place presents its own unique conditions. In a way, it's like a general surveying the landscape before a military engagement. Each battlefield is different and requires its own plan and response."
The initiative is specifically aimed at reducing alcohol and substance abuse of youths between the ages of 12 and 25. Even so, Coalition Chief Star Fuentes says the group 's strategies will be holistic, involving all age groups.
Substance abuse counselors say the risk that teens will smoke, use alcohol, and get drunk increase sharply with higher levels of stress or boredom. "We want to give them options to show them that it does not have to be this way," Ms. Fuentes said.
Formed about a year ago, the coalition is targeting about a dozen high-risk communities throughout Kent County including those in Smyrna, Dover and Camden.
Dave Parcher, the executive director of coalition member Kent/Sussex Community Services, says they have spent a lot of time conducting "needs assessments" to determine the risk factors in each neighborhood.
"Every community is different and every community has their own culture," he said. In one neighborhood, Mr. Parcher says the biggest risk factor may be the willingness of local adults to proxy purchase alcohol for minors. In another community, it may be a permissive attitude toward drug use.
Ms. Fuentes said local involvement will be key to energizing their efforts. "Having those community people on the coalition is going to drive it to want more and do more."
Community participation is not only desired, it is vital to the effort's sustainability. While the coalition is largely staffed by unpaid volunteers, the grant money will eventually run out.
Ms. Fuentes said the endgame is to have local groups apply for Drugfree Community grant money to sustain the community-based prevention efforts - something she believes will happen. "Our goal is to the show that this can work. I just believe that this model is going to be replicated."
Rep. Blakey said he shares that optimism. "Some of the people involved with this campaign are people I've worked with for years, while others have just recently stepped-up and made a commitment to improving their neighborhoods. I'm really encouraged by what I've seen so far and I think this holds a lot of promise."