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Family Connection Athens GA

Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Athens (SAPCA) has been funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to administer the Drug Free Communities (DFC) Project in collaboration with The Council on Alcohol and Drugs, Family Connection Communities in Schools of Athens, local, regional and statewide partners.

Upcoming Prevention Events, Training, & Workshops

SADD Shines Day for Athens-Clarke County
February 10th

In 2019, Mayor Girtz signed a proclamation to recognize the work of the SADD youth and SAPCA for bringing awareness to youth substance abuse and other areas of prevention. On February 10th annually, Athens- Clarke County, ACC SADD Chapter, and SAPCA observe “SADD Shines Day”.

Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Athens (SAPCA) Program Goals


1. To establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, nonprofit agencies, and federal, state, local and tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions to prevent and reduce substance use among youth.

2. To reduce substance use among youth and, over time, reduce substance abuse 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.

Why Alcohol?

  • Most used substance among CCSD Youth according to the 2017 GSHS
  • 6.9% of CCSD Youth (grades 6-12) use alcohol
  • Lifetime alcohol use was 22% higher among CCSD females than males

Why Marijuana?

  • Second most used substance among CCSD Youth according to the 2017 GSHS
  • 4.8% of CCSD Youth (grades 6-12) use marijuana
  • Lifetime marijuana use was 6.3% higher among CCSD females than males

THEORY OF THE SAPC PROGRAM

By mobilizing community leaders to identify and respond to the drug problems unique to their community, the DFC Program is designed to change the entire community environment. Focusing on environmental change ultimately contributes to reductions in substance use among youth, and over time, among adults.

Community Served


Strategic Community Partners


Clarke Central High School

Youth - Clarke
Central High School Student

  • Saniah Scie (Student and Member of ACC SADD)- Sector Representative
  • Athens- Clarke County Juvenile Court

    State/Local/Tribal Government - Athens- Clarke County Juvenile Court

    Amanda Trimble (Juvenile Court Judge) - Sector Representative

    Social Empowerment Center

    Healthcare Professional - Social Empowerment Center

    LaTrina Slater (Executive Director) - Sector Representative

    Chestnut Grove Baptist Church

    Religious/ Fraternal Organization - Chestnut Grove Baptist Church

    Betty Booker (Minister) - Sector Representative


    WXAG Radio

    Media -
    WXAG Radio

    Rick Dunn (Executive Producer) - Sector Representative

    Children First

    Civic/ Volunteer Organization -
    Children First

    Tasha Nicholson (Advocacy Coordinator) - Sector Representative

    Athens- Clarke County Police Department

    Law Enforcement- Athens- Clarke County Police Department

    John Williams (Sergeant for Investigations) - Sector Representative

    Legal Shield Logo

    Business - Legal Shield

    Natasha Strother (Representative) - Sector Representative


    Alliance Recovery Center

    Parent

    Samantha Presley (Parent of CCSD Student)- Sector Representative

    Youth Serving Organization – Advantage Behavioral Health

    Jada Harrison (Director of Addictive Diseases)- Sector Representative

    Clarke County School District

    School – Clarke County
    School District

    Chrystal Gillis (Director of Social Work) - Sector Representative

    Athens- Clarke County Police Department

    Other Organization Involved in Reducing Substance Abuse- Athens- Clarke County Police Department

    Laura Lusk (Sergeant for the Alcohol Compliance Unit) - Sector Representative

    Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Athens (SAPCA)
    Community Administrators

    Kay Manning

    Kay Manning, LCSW, MAC, ICPS

    Kay is a graduate of the University of Georgia after moving to Athens, GA in 1994. She completed an undergraduate program within the school of Family and Consumer Sciences specializing in early childhood development and completed a graduate program with the School of Social Work. Kay has obtained certification as a (LCSW) Licensed Clinical Social Worker, (MAC) Master Addiction Counselor, and an (ICPS) International Certified Prevention Specialist.

    Presently she is the Associate Director of Prevention/ Intervention with The Council on Alcohol and Drugs and brings with her five years of experience providing therapeutic interventions with children, adolescents and their families and two years of experience providing crisis interventions. Four years of education in Family Consumer Sciences and Economics specializing in early childhood theories and development. Two years of education in advocacy, policy and social work practices. During the past ten years Kay has been overseeing prevention programs statewide within the Prevention/Intervention Department of The Council on Alcohol and Drugs. 

    Tonya H. Knox, MPH, ICPS

    Tonya H. Knox, MPH, ICPS, CHES

    Tonya earned a Master of Public Health degree from Walden University after moving to Athens in 2007. She completed an undergraduate degree program in psychology (chemistry minor) from the University of Mississippi. Tonya has obtained professional certifications as an International Certified Prevention Specialist (ICPS) and Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) during the first year of funding.
    Tonya is serving as the Project Coordinator for the Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant covering Athens-Clarke county. She has worked in the area on public health education with an emphasis on adolescent health in the Northeast Health District for over the past 11 years. She has extensive connections in Athens-Clarke community and experience with alcohol and drug prevention education and evidenced based curriculums. She is working with the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (SAPC) to provide guidance in planning and implementing community programs that will address alcohol and drug use among Athens-Clarke county youth ages 14 to 18.

    Ellie Friese

    Ellie Friese

    Hello, my name is Ellie Friese and I am currently a third year psychology major at Georgia Gwinnett College. I am actively involved in the local Athens community as a referee for both high-school and youth lacrosse as well as managing a pizza establishment while working towards my degree. I am extremely passionate about physical and mental health as well as traveling. In my free time you can find me working out at the gym and playing with my seven-month-old puppy, Mogli. I enjoy staying busy and feel most accomplished when I am working hard and helping others. I am excited to work with Drug-Free Athens to continue building a safe and healthy community by providing the youth with the education and tools they need to live drug free.

    How To Contact Us

    Phone number: 678-590-0095

    Email: tknox@livedrugfree.org

    Mailing Address: 351 Searchlight Drive, Winder, GA 30680

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