The Governor's Office for Substance Abuse Prevention
Prevention Comes First
SPECIAL NEWS UPDATES
Special Information about Swine Flu
The number of cases of the human swine flu continues to rise in the Commonwealth. The GOSAP prevention network has created a Web page to help citizens monitor this situation and access the latest information avaliable. We have also included some links to other flu-related and health information sites. Please check out our Swine Flu Information page.
2009-2010 GOSAP SADFSCA Grant Awards Announced
The awards for the 2009-2010 Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (SADFSCA) Grants have been announced. 22 grants have been awarded covering a wide area of the Commonwealth. Find out more about the 2009-2010 grant recipients.
Handbook for Resale Stores and Product Re-sellers
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announces their new Resale Round-up Campaign to keep dangerous recalled products out of resale stores and off the internet by alerting re-sellers about recalls, product hazards and the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). To accomplish this, the CPSC has made available a new, downloadable resource, "Handbook for Resale Stores and Product Re-sellers," which can also be ordered by calling CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772.
THINK ... DON'T DRINK - Underage Drinking Initiative
In 2008, the "Think!...Don't Drink" campaign was launched to reduce underage drinking in Virginia. This initiative, presented by the Governor's Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (GOSAP) and the GOSAP Collaborative, is part of the Governor's Prevention Comes First initiative, and offers award opportunities, publications and a public service announcement to be distributed statewide. Read the Governor's press release.
Two underaged drinking publications, "A Community Guide for Preventing and Reducing Underage Drinking" and "A Parent Guide to Preventing Underage Drinking," have been published and are available as downloads or in print from ABC stores.
Parent Guide to Personal Safety for Youth
The Parent Guide to Personal Safety for Youth was released on Monday, October 29, 2007, at the 2nd Prevention Comes First Conference in Richmond. This new guide replaces the very popular KIDsafe Parent Guides and is available as a download or in print at local fire and/or rescue departments or DMV offices.
Get more information on the Parent Guide, including how to get copies.
Virginia's agencies collaborate to make a difference!
Logo for the GOSAP Collaborative
Thirteen agencies in Virginia have responsibility for one or more aspects of prevention. These agencies comprise the GOSAP Collaborative to improve communication, build agreement, cooperate and work as partners, share resources, and increase consistency to simplify processes and increase accountability in prevention practice. These agencies must work together because research shows that the factors that put a child at risk for one problem behavior put them at risk for other problems too. But research also shows that increasing protective factors like healthy beliefs and clear standards, bonding, meaningful opportunities, skills and recognition will build strong citizens to keep Virginia moving forward.
In November 2006, the GOSAP Collaborative was formally established, giving it specific powers and duties concerning: collaboration to enhance capacity, improve efficiency and produce results; infrastructure to sustain and integrate prevention into practice; and data to target resources and monitor results.
