We’ve heard this line echoed many times from many people. We need “somethin’ for the kids to do” to keep them off drugs, to keep them out of trouble, and to help show them their community cares about them. Unfortunately, too often we stop at the statement of need and don’t take the next step to figure out the “what” and the “how”. It’s time for that next step.
The Icelandic Prevention Model
In the late 1990s, the nation of Iceland came to the realization that their young people were abusing drugs and alcohol at an alarming rate. To address the problem, they brought their best researchers together to figure out a solution. And guess what they figured out that they needed? That’s right…somethin’ for the kids to do! It’s obviously not that simple, but at its core, that’s the answer. Put the young people in the driver’s seat, bring the community to the table, and figure out what the kids in each LOCAL community need to keep them engaged. Then each community comes together to provide what’s needed for their youth and keep it sustained. In the nearly 30 years since Iceland changed the way they engage their youth, substance abuse has plummeted.
Iceland takes the show on the road.
They were so successful with their model, Iceland packaged it and made it available to other communities around the world, calling it Planet Youth (planetyouth.org). Planet Youth provides a framework to follow in order to achieve the same results they have seen in Iceland. It is flexible and each community can adapt their activities to meet their own needs. In Estill County, we are well on our way to adopting the Icelandic model and getting involved with Planet Youth.
Estill Pathfinder Initiative Coalition
An ancient North to South trail called the Warriors’ Path goes through Estill County, and we have been working on developing the path in much the same way Boone’s Trace and the Wilderness Road have been. The Warriors' Path, as an organization, is advocating for and supporting communities in the adoption of the Icelandic Prevention Model, calling it the Pathfinder Initiative, in Eastern Kentucky. Another community along the path, Olive Hill in Carter County, has begun the process of adopting the Icelandic model and are the folks who have introduced us to it. Our friends have named their effort Olive Hill Pathfinder Initiative Coalition (OHPIC), and we have followed suit because EPIC is a great name! After an initial gathering, we are putting the structure in place to get the ball rolling. We are setting up EPIC as an operating division of Estill Development Alliance, with its own board and checking account, but with the cost savings and network that come with being part of an established nonprofit.
Why do we need a new organization?
The Icelandic model has a particular structure that has already been proven to work. This includes a coalition representing 12 sectors of the community, with the youth being in the prime slot. There is also funding available through the Drug-free Communities program, led by the CDC. Its requirements mirror those of Planet Youth, and the funding is substantial enough to help us run our program for up to 10 years. In short, we need an organization that is specifically set up to meet these requirements.
Who can be involved?
Anyone with an interest in Estill County’s youth has a seat at the table. Our goal is to be inclusive, so there will be no dues to participate. Also, to manage expectations, we are setting three tiers of membership. Active members plan to be “all in” by attending all meetings, gatherings, and other programming. They can vote on the board of the coalition as well as hold those board positions. Collaborating members will attend some meetings and events, but they know they can’t commit to all. They will not hold board positions, but they vote in board elections. Supporting members, while still invited to all meetings and events, do not plan to attend often. However, they are still interested in the success of the initiative, want to stay informed, and want to be available if their specific skills or network are needed.
How will our young people be involved?
This is the most important piece of the puzzle. We have begun working on the structure for a youth advisory council that serves the entire community. While serving as the youth component of EPIC, it will also serve as a “think tank” for our young people to tackle issues affecting them. Ultimately, we hope that our local governments and organizations will utilize the council to assist them in decision-making for community issues. This council will operate outside of the school district, but it will work closely with school groups and clubs to identify young people who are interested in serving their community in this way. We will also have a special focus on reaching out to those who aren’t already engaged in other activities.
What is EPIC actually going to do?
We are going to use data, which Planet Youth will help us collect, to inform decisions we need to make for our community’s young people while ensuring our young people are part of making those decisions. Whether it’s learning opportunities for groups of our kids (think fiddle lessons or trail-building classes or filmmaking seminars), recreational spaces (think youth rec center or parks), or organized activities (think youth-focused festivals or new sports leagues or gaming competitions), we will work together as a community to focus on what we’re going to do and then find the funding and do it. This is not one-size-fits-all with one solution to engage all the youth at once. We will work to support small groups with specific interests and keep working to reach as many of those small groups as possible.
Okay, I’m sold. What’s next?
An important tenet of EPIC is that it is a long-term solution. We didn’t get to our current situation overnight, and we won’t solve it overnight. That said, we are ready to get started. Head over to estill.org/epic and read up on what’s happening. When you’re ready, go ahead and decide which level of membership is right for you and sign the corresponding letter of commitment. We will be holding an organizational meeting in the next couple months. This fall, we will be hosting a larger informational session for the entire community. The Drug-free Communities application is due next April. (You must be established for 6 months to apply, which is why we’re not applying this year.) That means we have less than a year to get everything started and organized how we feel is best for Estill County. We’ve talked about getting “somethin’ for the kids to do” for far too long. Are you ready to make it happen?
Planet Youth Survey
The following questions are part of our Planet Youth survey. The first section is questions provided by Planet Youth. The second section is questions provided by local community partners. The last section is questions provided by the Drug Free Communities program. The answers to this survey provided by Estill County 7th-12th graders, who answer anonymously, are used by local leaders to measure how our community is doing with respect to these issues affecting our youth. We can track changes over time and make informed decisions about how we can provide the best environment possible for our local youth. If you would like to view the report from the first round of surveys in Spring of 2024, you may download it here:
To students The following survey contains several questions which you are being asked to respond to. These questions concern your opinions on various issues, as well as different types of activities you are, or might be, involved in. You have probably never participated in a survey regarding similar issues, but we still hope you can respond to these questions as conscientiously as possible, because your responses are very important. It is also important that you respond to the questions in a way which best describes your opinion. This is completely different from examinations, as no answers are more correct than others. The only important thing here is for your opinions to be made known.
It will be impossible to trace your answers to you. In other words, no one you know, not your teachers, parents, acquaintances or friends, could ever access your responses. Participation in the survey is entirely optional. Whether or not you answer the questions will not affect you in any negative way. If you are not comfortable answering a question or do not want to answer a question, just leave it blank. You may stop taking this survey at any time.
If you have any questions to ask about specific items, close or cover your screen and raise your hand. An employee or teacher will come to your desk with an unanswered version of the survey to assist you without seeing your answers.
With our kindest regards, The research team
General Information 1. How would you describe your gender? 2. What is your year of birth? 3. Grade/Class in school 4. Most of the time, I live with...
School life 5. How many whole days were you absent from school during the last 30 days? 6. How do the following statements apply to you? - I find the school studies pointless. - I am bored with the studies. - I am poorly prepared for classes. - I feel I do not put enough effort into the studies. - I find the studies too easy. - I find the studies too difficult. - I feel bad at school. - I want to quit school. - I want to change schools. - I get along with my teachers. 7. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - The adults at my school care about me. - The adults at my school are fair and kind to me. - It is safe to be around the adults at my school. - The adults at my school notice when I am having a hard time and offer to help me. - The adults at my school believe I can make the world a better place. - I have friends at school that care about me. - My friends think we should try our best at school. - The students at my school are nice to each other. - At my school, it is not a big deal to make mistakes while trying your best. - My school is helping me achieve goals that matter to me. - I try best in school. - At least one thing I do at my school makes me want to be the best I can be. - I have a good time participating in activities at my school. - My school helps me discover things I'm good at doing. - Doing my best in school now will help me have a good life when I'm older.
Family life 8. During the last 7 days, how often did you do any of the following: - Stayed at home for a whole evening. - Was away from my home after 10 o'clock in the evening. - Went outside my home and returned home after midnight. 9. How easy or difficult would it be for you to receive the following from your parents/caregivers? - Caring and warmth. - Discussion about personal matters. - Advice about school work/studies. - Advice about other issues or projects of yours. - Assistance with other activities or projects. 10. How does the following apply to you? - I spend time with my parents/caregivers outside school hours on school days. - I spend time with my parents/caregivers during the weekends. - My parents/caregivers know where I spend Saturday evenings. 11. How do the following statements apply to you? - My parents/caregivers set definite rules about what I can do at home. - My parents/caregivers set definite rules about what I can do outside the home. - My parents/caregivers set definite rules about when I should be home in the evening. - My parents/caregivers know who I am with in the evenings. - My parents/caregivers know where I am in the evenings. - My parents/caregivers know my friends. - My parents/caregivers know the parents of my friends.
Leisure time 12. How many times a week do you participate in any of the following out of school activities that are supervised by adults? - Engage in sports (practice or compete) with a sports club/team. - Church or community groups - Music/art/drama or dance. - Volunteering in the community. - Other after school activities. (ex. ***) 13. In the past week, on how many days have you done a total of 60 minutes or more of physical activity, which was enough to raise your breathing rate? This may include sport, exercise and brisk walking or cycling for recreation or to get to and from places? 14. How often do you do the following? - Hang out at a friends home with no adult present. - Hang out with friends in a local parking lot. - Hang out with friends in fields or wooded area. - Hang out with friends in a local mall, shopping center, or stores downtown. - Hang out with friends at a nearby school when the school is closed. - Hang out with friends in an abandoned building or empty house.
Wellbeing 15. How many hours do you sleep on average every night? 16. Please indicate for each of the five statements which is closest to how you have been feeling over the last two weeks. - I have felt cheerful and in good spirits. - I have felt calm and relaxed. - I have felt active and vigorous. - I woke up feeling fresh and rested. - My daily life has been filled with things that interest me. 17. How would you rate your... - Physical health. - Mental health.
Caffeine 18. How many drinks (cups/cans/bottles) do you drink of the following drinks every day? - Coffee - Tea - Cola drinks (e.g. Coke, Pepsi) - Energy drinks that contain caffeine (e.g. RedBull, Nocco, Monster, Alani) - Caffeinated shots (e.g. Five Hour Energy)
Cigarette Smoking 19. How often have you smoked cigarettes in your lifetime? 20. How many cigarettes have you smoked on average, during the last 30 days? 21. At what age did you smoke a cigarette for the first time? 22. At what age did you start smoking cigarettes daily for the first time? 23. How do you usually get your own cigarettes? - I buy them in a store. - A family member gives them to me. - A person 21 or older who isn't in my family gives the to me. - I take them from a store without paying for them. - I take them from a family member without them knowing. - I get them from my friends or schoolmates.
Vaping 24. How often have you used electronic cigarettes or vaping devices in your lifetime? 25. How often have you used electronic cigarettes or vaping devices, on average, during the last 30 days? 26. At what age did you use electronic cigarettes or vaping devices for the first time? 27. How do you usually get your own electronic cigarettes or vaping products? - I buy them in a store. - A family member gives them to me. - A person 21 years or older who isn't my family gives them to me. - I take them from a store without paying for them. - I take them from a family member without them knowing. - I get them from my friends or schoolmates.
Mouth tobacco 28. How often have you used snuff, chewing tobacco, or other tobacco inserted in mouth in your lifetime? 29. How often have you used snuff, chewing tobacco, or other tobacco inserted in mouth in the last 30 days? 30. At what age did you use snuff, chewing tobacco for the first time?
Nicotine pouches 31. How often have you used nicotine pouches in your lifetime? 32. How often have you used nicotine pouches in the last 30 days? 33. At what age did you use nicotine pouches for the first time? 34. How do you usually get your nicotine pouches? - I buy them in a store. - A family member gives them to me. - A person 21 years or older who isn't my family gives them to me. - I take them from a store without paying for them. - I take them from a family member without them knowing. - I get them from my friends or schoolmates.
Water pipe 35. How often have you used water pipe/hookah/bong in your lifetime? 36. How often have you used water pipe/hookah/bong in the last 30 days?
Alcohol use 37. How often have you had a drink of alcohol of any kind during your lifetime? 38. How often have you had a drink of alcohol of any kind during the past 12 months? 39. How often have you had a drink of alcohol of any kind during the past 30 days? 40. At what age did you drink alcohol for the first time? 41. How often have you become drunk during your lifetime? 42. How often have you become drunk during the last 12 months? 43. How often have you become drunk during the last 30 days? 44. At what age did you get drunk for the first time? 45. Do you drink alcohol in the following places? - In your home. - In the home of others. - In a shopping center. - Outdoors: for example, in the street, in the park, etc. - In a club/bar/pub. - At a school dance/ball. - Before a school dance/ball. - In a youth club/center. - During training or rehearsal, tours, or camps. 46. How do you usually get the alcohol you drink? - I buy them in a store. - A family member gives them to me. - A person 21 years or older who isn't my family gives them to me. - I take them from a store without paying for them. - I take them from a family member without them knowing. - I get them from my friends or schoolmates.
Cannabis use 47. How often have you used cannabis substances (marijuana/hash) in your lifetime? 48. How often have you used cannabis substances (marijuana/hash) in your in the last 12 months? 49. How often have you used cannabis substances (marijuana/hash) in the last 30 days? 50. At what age did you use cannabis (marijuana/hash) for the first time?
Substance Use 51. How often have you used any of the following drugs? - Over the counter sleeping pill or tranquilizers - Amphetamines (speed) - LSD (acid) - Ecstasy (E-tablets, MDMA) - Cocaine - Heroin - Relevin - Magic Mushrooms - Sniffing (glue) - Anabolic steroids - Homemade brews/poteen - Herbal/organic drugs - Laughing gas - Spice - Opioid drugs without a doctors prescription (codeine, morphine, methadone, fentanyl, oxycontin, hydrocodone. - Cathinones (khat, 3-MMC) - ADHD medication without a doctors prescription (ritalin, concerta, rubifen, adderall) 52. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - Sometime you need to smoke cigarettes so your left out of the peer group. - Sometime you need to drink alcohol so your left out of the peer group. - Sometime you need to use cannabis so your left out of the peer group. - Sometime you need to skip classes so your left out of the peer group. - Sometime you need to vape so your left out of the peer group. 53. How do you think your parents/caregivers would react if you did any of the following? - Smoke cigarettes - Became drunk - Use cannabis substances (hash or marijuana) - Use electronic cigarettes - Use snuff, chewing tobacco, any other tobacco that you put in your mouth. 54. How many of your friends do you think do the following/ - Smoke cigarettes - Drink alcohol (beer, wine, or spirits) - Become drunk at least once a month. - Use cannabis (hash or marijuana) - Use electronic cigarettes (vape) - Pick fights or search out for fights
Community 55. To what extent do that following statements apply to you? (I feel safe...) - At home - At school - In my neighborhood 56. How well does the following apply to your conditions? - My parents/caregivers have friends that live close to our home. - My parents/caregivers know many of our neighbors by name. - My parents/caregivers sometimes visit some of our neighbors. - My neighbors sometime visit my parents/caregivers. - Sometimes we borrow things from our neighbors. (e.g. milk, tools) - Our neighbors sometimes borrow things from us. (e.g. milk, tools) 57. How likely or unlikely is it that your neighbors would do something about it if...? - The youths in the neighborhood were skipping school and hanging around. - The youth were putting graffiti (tagging) on houses in the area. - The youth disrespected the adults. - If a fight broke out in front of your house. - Somebody was breaking into a car or house on your street. 58. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - There is a great deal of social life available in my neighborhood/community. - It is good to live in my neighborhood/community - In the future I would like to continue to live in the neighborhood/community that I live in now. 59. How often have you done any of the following during the last 12 months? - Stolen something worth less than $25. - Stolen something worth more than $25. - Used physical violence in order to rob/steal. - Broken into a building or a car to steal. - Damaged or vandalized things that did not belong to you. - Committed other offense. 60. How many of your friends do you think have done the following during the last 12 months? - Stolen something worth more than $25. - Broken into a building or a car in order to steal. - Damaged or vandalized things that do not belong to them.
The following questions have been submitted by the Drug Free Communities program and will be included in this year's survey and all surveys going forward.
- During the past 30 days, have you used prescription drugs not prescribed to you? - How much do you think people risk harming themselves physically or in other ways when they have 5 or more drinks of an alcoholic beverage once or twice a week? - How much do you think people risk harming themselves physically or in other ways if they smoke one or more packs of cigarettes per day? - How much do you think people risk harming themselves physically or in other ways if they use marijuana once or twice a week? (e.g., smoking, vaping, edibles) - How much do you think people risk harming themselves physically or in other ways if they use prescription drugs that are not prescribed to them? - How wrong do your friends feel it would be for you to have one or two drinks of an alcoholic beverage nearly every day? - How wrong do your friends feel it would be for you to smoke tobacco? - How wrong do your friends feel it would be for you to use marijuana? (e.g., smoking, vaping, edibles) - How wrong do your friends feel it would be for you to use prescription drugs not prescribed to you? - How wrong do your parents or guardians feel it would be for you to have one or two drinks of an alcoholic beverage nearly every day? - How wrong do your parents or guardians feel it would be for you to smoke tobacco? - How wrong do your parents or guardians feel it would be for you to use marijuana? (e.g., smoking, vaping, edibles) - How wrong do your parents or guardians feel it would be for you to use prescription drugs not prescribed to you?
Latest News
November, 2024 Since initially launching EPIC in 2023, we have had bursts of progress divided by periods of waiting. We formed our initial coalition and entered into an agreement with Planet Youth to aid us in implementing the beginning stages of the Icelandic Prevention Model. We undertook our first Youth Survey following proven best practices and are working on distribution of the results. With the help of Mercy Health Marcum and Wallace Hospital, we applied for and were awarded a Drug-Free Communities grant from the CDC. This will allow us to hire staff who are primarily focused on implementing the Icelandic Prevention Model.
Our Coalition
Both the Planet Youth model and the Drug Free Communities program have the same requirements for what sectors should be represented on a community coalition. These sectors and their current representatives on EPIC are listed below: - Youth - Brooklyn Walters, ECHS Senior - Media - Ethan Moore, WSKV Radio - Healthcare - Trena Stocker, Mercy Health Marcum and Wallace Hospital - Schools - Melinda Barnett, Estill County Schools - Substance Abuse Prevention - Rachel Stanley, New Vista - Business - Kathy Samples, CG Bank - Law Enforcement - Chris Flynn, Estill County Sheriff - Parents - Katie Bentley-Mooers, Parent - Youth-Serving Organizations - Erin Leach, Estill Co. 4-H - Religion/Fraternal Organizations - Austin Lay, Irvine Masonic Lodge - Elected Officials - Jason Riley, Estill County Attorney - Civic Groups - Tiffany Reynolds, Irvine-Ravenna Kiwanis Club
Past Coalition Members: Natalie York (Youth)
Join EPIC
If you'd like to officially become part of this effort, we ask that you sign a letter on behalf of yourself or the organization you represent. In order to manage expectations and be inclusive, we have three levels of commitment for you to consider. You can download the corresponding letters below.
Active members are "all in." They plan to attend most meetings and events planned and put on by EPIC. Active members are eligible to serve on the Board of Directors, and they vote in board elections.
Collaborating members plan to be heavily involved, but circumstances will keep them from being as involved as Active members. They plan to attend some functions of EPIC, but they cannot commit to the bulk of them. While not eligible to serve on the Board of Directors, Collaborating members may still vote in board elections.
Supporting members are passionate about this initiative, but circumstances will keep them from being very involved. They still want to stay informed about EPIC and lend help when they can. And while still invited to all functions, they are not expected to attend. Supporting members are not eligible to serve on the Board of Directors or vote in board elections.
If, at any time, a member wishes to change their level of membership, all they have to do is sign a new letter and submit it. Easy as that. Our hope is that giving people a choice to formally declare their level of involvement, it will reduce stress and possible resentment. Our circumstances in life change regularly, and we shouldn't have to "hide" if we don't have the time to take on additional responsibilities. Likewise, when the opportunity to get more involved presents itself, we shouldn't have to "drop hints" to be asked to step up our level of involvement. Let's work together to build our community, no matter our individual level of available time!
Please click below on the letter you'd like to sign to download it in .pdf format. Once you have filled it out, you may mail it to EPIC, PO Box 421, Irvine, KY 40336 or you may scan and email it as an attachment to [email protected].
