Our mission at Shaker Prevetion Coalition is to enhance the human infrastructure of our community through youth development; promotion of healthy life choices; substance abuse prevention; strengthening of social inclusion; support for parents; and maintenance of the adult protective shield.

Reduce and prevent the measurable use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among youth and, over time, among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of substance abuse and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance abuse.

Establish and strengthen Collaborations among communities, Nonprofit Agencies, Federal, State, and Local Governments, businesses, faith based organizations, media organizations, educational institutions, and youth serving organizations to support the efforts of community coalitions to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth.

Influence Social Norms Regarding Youth Substance use in order to promote substance free lifestyles among youth and create a safe community.

For several decades there have been formal efforts in Shaker Heights focused on substance abuse prevention. Though the groups have taken different names such as Shaker Parents Aware and DASH (Drug Awareness Shaker Heights), these groups have shared a common thread of effort and leadership from key community organizations and individuals. In 2001, under the name Shaker Coalition for the Prevention of Youth Substance Abuse (commonly called the Shaker Prevention Coalition) youth serving organizations in Shaker Heights joined together in an effort to decrease substance use among Shaker teens. Funded by a Drug Free Community Grant from the National Office of Drug Control Policy and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Shaker Prevention Coalition has evolved into a broad-based, community anti-drug coalition.

Though oriented toward substance abuse prevention, the Coalition has begun to take a youth development focus in their work, recognizing that anything that supports the well-being and resiliency of teens decreases the likelihood of substance abuse. Diverse issues such as social inclusion, teen stress, depression, and media literacy are all issues that have become part of the coalition youth development focus.

Who's Involved?

The Shaker Prevention Coalition is an inclusive community partnership based in the Shaker Heights Health Department. Coalition member organizations include:

The City of Shaker Heights, Departments of:
Health, Community Life, Police, Juvenile Division, Communication and Outreach Neighborhood Revitalization, Shaker Heights Youth Consortium, Shaker Heights Courts
Shaker Heights City Schools:
Shaker Heights PTO, Shaker Heights Private Schools, Shaker Youth Center
Shaker Heights Library
Shaker Heights Neighborhood Associations
Shaker Family Center
Bellefaire JCB, Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) Program
Caring Communities
First Baptist Church
SHARP (Student Health Advocates Reaching Peers)
CWRU Center for Adolescent Health Heights Christian Church
CWRU School of Medicine, Division of Public Health Others
South Shaker MyCom
Individual community members

Shaker Prevention Coalition Leadership

Co-Chairs: Scott Frank, MD, MS and James Paces, EdD
Shaker Prevention Coalition Coordinator: Candace Wallace
Shaker Prevention Coalition Outreach Coordinator: Avril Sargent
Steering Committee: Luren Dickenson, John Lisy, Judy Stenta, Kristina Knight, Jeff Demuth, Kevin Crowe, Jean Frank, Alisa Smith, Colleen Horvath, Jae Williams, Nancy Moore, Jessica Gupta, Camelia Sutorius, Chris Ruma- Cullen