TRACC TAKES HONORS Top

Written by Betsy O'Leary | Photos submitted by TRACC

When it comes to making a measurable difference in the community, Tangipahoa Reshaping Attitudes for Community Change (TRACC) coalition ranks high on any list Having begun 15 years ago in conjunction with Tangipahoa Parish government, TRACC’s focus is the impact of substance abuse on the parish and its residents Their goals include decreasing harmful risks while improving community residents’ quality of life

Their dedication and hard work to prevent and eradicate substance abuse in Tangipahoa Parish earned the coalition a prestigious national award Bridget Bailey, TRACC Community Development Director, relayed that, back in January TRACC coalition members traveled to Washington, D.C., to accept the Major General Arthur T. Dean Chairman’s Award at the annual National Leadership Forum sponsored by the national Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)

CADCA recognizes and awards this honor only to coalitions that have proven their outstanding achievements in community campaigns designed to reduce substance abuse The Tangi team bested all other national coalitions by earning the highest score for the tools they created for making positive, impactful, and lasting changes for residents living in the communities of Tangipahoa Parish.

Last year, TRACC members committed themselves to an intensive, three-week-long National Coalition Academy training to learn effective tactics shown to deter tobacco-vaping in youths The surveys they conducted of community members became the genesis of their winning video documentary about the hazards of tobaccovaping among young people

This recent accolade did not go unnoticed by Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller, who previously expressed his pride at TRACC’s award Miller noted that "receiving the Major General Arthur T. Dean Chairman’s Award is such an honor, and it means so much to not only our team but for everyone who advocates for a better quality of life for our people here in Tangipahoa Parish ”

Bailey stressed that it is only because TRACC provides quantifiable results that the organization can continue to receive funding

The money they receive is then used to establish additional drug-free programs in Tangipahoa Parish

In addition to the monetary support provided by the Tangipahoa Parish Government, TRACC qualifies for and receives other funding from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and from safety grants provided by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission (LHSC)

CADCA was first established over 30 years ago to stem the tide of substance abuse and its ill effects on communities here in the United States and worldwide. Their outreach includes all community sectors like health care professionals, law enforcement groups, schools, children and their parents, and media partners

All these different groups collaborate to achieve their common goals -- eradicating substance abuse and misuse while reducing the adverse societal and financial scourge the pall of addiction casts on oncevibrant communities.

Bailey hopes their award spotlights the organization so more civic groups and individuals will share its mission To get more information, call the parish's Office of Community Development at (985) 542-7138 or email TRACC at tracc@tangipahoa.org.