Medford Area Public School District

Implementation of Strategies to Prevent Alcohol and Substance Abuse in Taylor County Youth Using Collaboration Between Students, Community, and Taylor County Drug Opposition Coalition. - Project Abstract Summary ? Community Overviewfunding for the Taylor County Drug Opposition Partners (TCDOP) Project Will Support the Strong Community Collaboration Focused on Empowering Taylor County Youth to Choose to Delay Onset and Reduce Substance Use. Tcdop and Pure Performance, the Youth Coalition, Will Design and Implement Strategies That Will Expand on the Successful Approaches Currently in Place and Implement New Strategies to Immerse the Community With Pure Performance Principles. Outcomes Target Developing New, While Maintaining Current Community Collaborations. Youth Alcohol Use Outcomes Will Target Decreasing Current Use and Binge Drinking, Increasing Perception of Risk/harm and Delaying Onset of Alcohol Consumption. Tobacco Outcomes Will Focus on Decreasing Current Use of Tobacco While Increasing Youth Perception of Risk/harm. the Project Will Concentrate Activities on Education, Reducing Access, Changing Consequences and Implementation of Policies. Tcdop Will Continue to Monitor for Resurgence of Methamphetamine and Prescription Drug Use and Abuse as Well as Monitoring for Delivery of Marijuana via Edibles and Electronic Delivery. Rural Taylor County, in North-central Wisconsin, Is a 1,000 Square Mile Rectangle With a Population of 20, 653 (2018 U.s. Census). Seventy Three Percent of the Area Is Forest and Wet Land; 21 Percent Is Dairy and Crop Farmland, and Six Percent Is Developed Land. One-third of the County Is in the Chequamegon National Forest With Remote Paved and Gravel Road Access to Lakes, Rivers and Wildlife. the Rural Nature of the County, With Recreational Opportunities Throughout the Forested Area Is a Draw for Outdoor Sport Enthusiasts and Supports a Culture of Alcohol Acceptance. Hunting Season Is a High-risk Period for Youth Substance Use. Gravel Pits Throughout the County Are Prime Areas for Secluded Youth Substance Use Parties. Medford Is the Largest City, and the County Seat, With a Population of 4,364 Located in the South East Corner. Two Other Central Communities Are Gilman, on the Western Boarder of the County With a Population of 434 and Rib Lake, Population 910, Located in the North East Corner of the County. the Highway System Consists of Two-lane Paved and Rustic Roads. Wisconsin Highway 29, Fifteen Miles South of the Southern County Border, Connects Directly With Minneapolis, Minnesota, Approximately Three Hours West. Chicago Illinois Is Five Hours South on Interstate 39.NINETY Six Percent of Taylor County?s Population Is Caucasian. Three Percent Are Black, Asian and Native American. Two Percent of the County?s Population Is of Hispanic Descent. of the Total Population, 51% Are Male, 49% Female. Approximately 24% of the Population Is Under the Age of 18 Years. Because of the Strong European Descent, Christianity Is the Prominent Religion in Taylor County. There Are No Clear Statistics on Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Especially Among the Youth. Poverty Is at 10% for the County, But for Children Under the Age of 18, the Poverty Rate Is 16%. Twenty-eight Percent of School-aged Children in Taylor County School Districts Are Eligible for the Free or Reduced Lunch Program. School Age Children Attend One of the Three School Districts in the County. Medford Is the Largest With a Student Population of 2,142, Rib Lake and Gilman School Districts Are Much Smaller With Student Populations of 468 and 306 (2019-2020). All Three Districts Use Extensive Bussing Services to Transport Students From the Remote Rural Areas. the County Unemployment Rate Is 3.4%. the Community Depends Heavily on Agriculture, Logging Manufacturing/trade, Utilities, Education and Health Occupations. Medford Is the Industrial Hub of the County Providing Jobs in Window Manufacturing, Pizza and Cheese Production.