San Juan Safe Communities Initiative

http://www.sjsci.electronicacademy.com/newsite/index.php

The San Juan Safe Communities Initiative is a partnership between public and private entities including: city, county and state governments, prevention experts, treatment providers, social service agencies, business community, the faith community, schools, law enforcement, local judges and the drug court program, health care providers, and concerned citizens.

Many agencies are currently working in San Juan County to reduce substance abuse and criminal activity. We believe that with the nature of the current problems facing the county (especially Methamphetamines and Gangs), we must have a comprehensive approach to solving them. Our premise is that we can accomplish a great deal more if we consolidate our efforts and work together toward achieving our mutual goals.

Meth is a growing problem in San Juan County. San Juan County has some alarming statistics that indicate the increasing use of methamphetamine and its related effects such as gang activity in our communities. Some other troubling facts include:

• San Juan County has the highest number of children in New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department custody as a result of methamphetamine exposure by their parents.
• San Juan Regional Medical Center reports that 8% of new mothers tested were positive for methamphetamine.
• San Juan County employers are finding it difficult to maintain a competent work force that is drug free.
• 90% of the adult Drug Court participants and 65% of the juvenile participants are meth users.
• Methamphetamine is widely available in San Juan County.
• There are over 325 “registered” intravenous meth users in San Juan County (November 2006)
• The number of crimes related to gang activity in our area is increasing significantly

The San Juan Safe Communities Initiative, Inc. is attempting to do something few communities in this nation have been able to accomplish. Our goal is to draw upon our most valuable resource, our people, to achieve our shared goals. We believe that a comprehensive community-wide approach to solving our comprehensive community-wide problems is the only way we be able to sustain lasting change. By bringing together committed, dedicated citizens and providing a voice for every segment of the population, maintaining our focus of collaboration and cooperation, and promoting our strategic vision for San Juan County, we will achieve a safe community.