Safe Climate Coalition of Lake County, Inc.

Safe Climate Coalition of Lake County, Inc. “A Shared Services Network Initiative”

Safe Climate Coalition Infrastructure

The Safe Climate Coalition is an initiative of the Lake County Shared Services Network which is governed by an Executive Roundtable made up of key Lake County leaders, agency heads, government officials and elected officials. This Executive Roundtable serves as the Coalition’s Board of Directors.

The primary focus of this Coalition is to provide community education and awareness about substance abuse that will make a difference in our endeavor to change the risk factors this county currently faces while promoting protective factors for our youth and their family. “Lake County youth are still reporting drug use and delinquent behavior that will negatively affect their lives and our society” (2006 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey). A series of reports by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revealed that not only do some 10.4 million young people consume alcohol in America, but also many of them simply walk into a liquor store and purchase alcohol without ever being asked for identification to prove their age. Ten percent of all drinking done in America is done by underage youth.

Lake County is no exception. We can no longer say it isn’t happening here. “With overall prevalence rates of 57.8 % for lifetime use and 34.1 % for past-30-day use, alcohol is the most commonly used drug among Lake County students. Binge drinking (defined as the consumption of five or more drinks in a row within the last two weeks) is more prevalent than … tobacco and marijuana use” (2006 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey). The ongoing issues of changing population, poverty and huge growth challenge the entire infrastructure of Lake County. Lake County Schools continues to offer prevention curricula along with character education at all levels. However, it isn’t enough. Our escalating crime statistics for juvenile arrests correlates to ongoing substance abuse issues. Lake County is first in the 5 th Judicial Circuit for youth felony arrests with Leesburg ranking the highest followed by Clermont.