Prevention Efforts

The Deschutes County Prevention Office is a collaborative effort between the Commission on Children & Families, Deschutes County Mental Health, Juvenile Community Justice and the Health Department.  Since its inception the Prevention Office has addressed issues such as: substance abuse and underage drinking, tobacco use and sales to minors, juvenile crime and violence, family violence, and gambling addiction prevention. Strategies used to address these issues have included: the formation of substance abuse prevention coalitions in La Pine, Sisters and Redmond; implementation of Life Skills Training --an exemplary middle school prevention curriculum; hosting an annual Youth Prevention Conference; and many other community-based campaigns and projects.

The office is dedicated to enhancing prevention efforts through leadership, advocacy, technical assistance, and community awareness of prevention. Priorities will continue to include a focus on research-based models, increasing community awareness, and reducing adolescent substance abuse and juvenile crime within our community. Over the next 10 years the focus will continue to be sustaining partnerships, increasing research-based programming, and advocating for prevention and early intervention resources for our community.