Positive Pressure | Buffalo County Community Partners

Our mission is to aid communities in the coordination and integration of resources, and the use of evidence-based practices to reduce substance abuse.

Our vision is to improve the health and quality of life in Buffalo County by reducing substance abuse through collaboration, planning, and programming.

Goals

• Increase Community Collaboration
• Reduce Youth and Adult Substance Use
• Alcohol, Marijuana, Prescription Drugs

Key Activities

• Educate youth, parents, older adults, and the social, business, and government institutions that create policies and influence attitudes and behaviors.
• TIPS: Training for Intervention ProcedureS is a responsible beverage server curriculum being offered in Buffalo County. It is a skills based training designed to prevent intoxication, alcohol impaired driving, and underage drinking.
• Parents, Take a Stand: Website designed for community and parent interaction to share advice, seek resources, and problem solve together around youth substance use.
• Be Safe, Be Smart Taskforce: Empowered group of community members and organizations who set out to changes the Cruise Nite event’s high-risk drinking culture and promote a safe, fun and family-oriented environment that the event was originally intended to be.

Important Data

• Youth in Buffalo County who report smoking regularly has decreased by 78% since 2000.
• Youth in Buffalo County who report binge drinking regularly has decreased by 75% since 2000.
• Youth in Buffalo County who report alcohol use in the past 30 days has decreased by 63% since 2000.
• Youth in Buffalo County who report using chewing tobacco in the past 30 days has decreased by 50% since 2000.
• 68% of respondents to a Kearney Hub online poll reported they believe Cruise Nite is more appealing since “Be Safe, Be Smart” efforts to reign in large parties.
• From 2014 to 2015, a higher percentage of respondents indicated that “there are fewer negative behaviors now than before,” and a lower percentage of respondents reported that their property suffered damage as a result of Cruise Nite activities

History

Positive Pressure formed in June 1996, as a grassroots community coalition to address alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. Positive Pressure developed in response to the needs of the community to become more informed about, and to address the problems created by methamphetamine use during the mid 1990’s. During the early years, the coalition specifically worked with community members and policy makers to prevent a head shop from selling drug paraphernalia in 1999. Under collaborative efforts primarily between the former Family Resource Council, Buffalo County Community Partners, and Region 3 Prevention staff, the coalition formed as a Partners goal work group. Click here to read more of our history.

Contact

If you have any other questions, or are interested in becoming involved with our coalition, please contact our coalition coordinator:
Wanda Fedorchik
308-865-2283
Email

Visit the Positive Pressure website for substance abuse data and resources, community programs and initiatives, support, and more.

Resources

Parents, Take a Stand

The “Parents, Take A Stand” theme for this website is designed for community and parental interaction. If we can have local parents interact with each other, sharing advice, communicating and solving problems, our kids and our community will be much better because of it. Visit http://teenagersdrinking.org/ to use this resource.

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week, a campaign created by the National Family Partnership that aims to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a drug-free America. This year, Positive Pressure teamed up with Kearney/Holdrege Elks Lodge #984 and players from the University of Nebraska at Kearney women’s basketball team to visit local schools and talk to students about staying drug free. Players from the UNK women’s basketball team spoke during special assemblies, explaining to students why they choose to be drug free and handing out Take a Stand t-shirts to students who volunteered to share their reasons for staying drug free. In addition, members of Elks Lodge #984 distributed informational packets to counselors in each Buffalo County school. The packets contained resources on substance abuse, mentoring, assessing and building on the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets, and more.

Training for Intervention ProcedureS (TIPS)

The Responsible Beverage Server Curriculum currently being offered in Buffalo County is the TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) program. This is a skills based training designed to prevent intoxication, alcohol impaired driving, and underage drinking. This is a four hour training and is approved by the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.

Our trainers volunteer their time to train individuals and businesses on the responsible service of alcohol. Our trainers include: Doug Kramer, Ryan Ohri, Linda Neemeyer, and Amy Softley.

TIPS classes are held monthly. The cost of training is $30 per person. For more information or to register for a class, please contact Wanda Fedorchik, Coalition Coordinator, at 308-865-2283 or by email.

TIPS Pricing

Training	Participants	Unit Price
On-Premise or Off-Premise (inside of Buffalo County)	5 minimum	$30
On-Premise or Off Premise (outside of Buffalo County)	5 minimum	$35
University Training (discounted)	No minimum	$14
Non-Profit Organization (discounted)	No minimum	$25

Other Details:
1. All prices include an amount for shipping and handling and taxes, therefore are subject to change.
2. Invoice is sent to establishment prior to the training.
3. Payment is required 3 days before a class, if trained and not paid, certification cards are held until payment is received.
4. Administrative Assistant should be notified after the training if there needs to be additional payment, a credit, or a refund.

Responsible Beverage Server Coalition Brochure