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Telemundo - Guadalupe Centers High School
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Please briefly describe your Communities Talk activity.
We recently participated in a community event, Telemundo, where we hosted a vendor table focused on drug and alcohol prevention. At the event, we engaged with attendees on the importance of harm reduction strategies, specifically discussing the use of Narcan to prevent overdose fatalities. Our goal was to raise awareness about substance use prevention and equip the community with practical knowledge on harm reduction techniques. We also distributed educational materials and resources to support ongoing awareness. Learn more at https://telemundokc.com/feriatusalud/ .
How does alcohol and other drug misuse affect your community?
Alcohol and drug misuse significantly affect our community, particularly among our predominantly Hispanic high school students. In our area, there is a growing need for focused education within the Latino community, as awareness of prevention and harm reduction strategies remains low. This challenge is compounded by language barriers, which often limit access to critical information on the risks and resources available for support. Without targeted educational efforts and culturally tailored resources, misinformation can persist, further placing these students at risk. Addressing this gap through bilingual resources and community outreach is essential to promoting healthier choices and reducing substance misuse in our community.
Which prevention strategy(ies), as defined by SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, best fit your Communities Talk activity?
- Information Dissemination Strategy - focuses on improving awareness and knowledge of the effects of AOD issues on communities and families through “one-way” communication with the audience such as speaking engagements, health fairs, and distribution of print materials.
What goal(s) did you hope to accomplish with your Communities Talk activity?
- Hold meetings or discussion groups on alcohol and/or other drug misuse prevention.
Did you accomplish your goal(s)?
Yes
What challenge(s) did you face in planning your activity this year?
- Lack of interest from the community
- Language barriers
How did you overcome these challenges?
In our Guadalupe Impact Academy high school project, we took several key steps to address the challenges related to alcohol and drug misuse awareness, particularly focusing on the bilingual component. Recognizing the language barrier as a significant obstacle, we adapted our plans to include bilingual resources and materials, ensuring that prevention and harm reduction messages were accessible to both students and their families. Overcoming these challenges allowed our Communities Talk activity to reach a broader audience and foster a greater level of engagement within the community. This experience underscored the importance of inclusivity and adaptability in outreach, reinforcing the value of community partnerships to deliver effective prevention education.
What are your next steps?
- Continue further prevention and harm reduction activities with the Guadalupe High School
If you’ve conducted Communities Talk activities in prior years, how has your repeated participation contributed to progress in achieving your prevention goals?
Organizations that conduct Communities Talk activities often involve other organizations in the planning and execution of events. Please indicate which type(s) of organizations you involved in your activity planning.
Which of the following best describes the primary audience(s) for your Communities Talk activity?
- Youth
- Parents
- Hispanic community members
How did you reach and engage your primary audience(s) to encourage them to participate in your activity?
To reach and engage our primary audience of predominantly Hispanic high school students and their families, we prioritized culturally relevant, bilingual outreach strategies. We collaborated with bilingual staff and local community leaders to design materials that reflected the community’s language and culture. This tailored approach not only made the activity more accessible but also built trust, resulting in higher engagement and active participation from our primary audience.
Which Communities Talk resources (or other SAMHSA resources) were most helpful for your activity?
- Prevention-related webinars
- StopAlcoholAbuse.gov website
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