Consequently, MCP was founded to provide direction to the 12 key community state-holders who are passionate about altering the blueprints of our youths and communities through the implementation of substance use prevention programs, mentoring programs, HIV/AIDS prevention and community development services for at-risk youth and families throughout the State of Mississippi. Our goal is to provide services through collaboration and partnering with diverse community organizations via technical assistance, direct and indirect assistance to form a cooperative spirit. Thus, these neighboring cooperative agreements can effectively bring about community changes that are instrumental in making a meaningful and significant impact throughout the State of Mississippi by following our motto– “Encompassing Communities Through Empowerment”.
MCP has developed a plan that is community focused not simply targeted on preparing and assisting individuals. Our community coalition focuses on changing the full environment by identifying and implementing strategies that will affect community attitudes, perception, norms, and beliefs around alcohol and other drugs. The Coalition members’ role in the planning and development of prevention programs are identified and based on the community needs assessment which identifies risks and protective factors from many data sources and with input from community stakeholders. The Coalition members’ prevention approaches include a comprehensive approach, serving youths and parents, as well as impacting prevention efforts at as larger environmental and public policy approach, through the implementation of prevention planning, guidance documents, public awareness campaigns, merchant education and training, and general dissemination of information about serving the needs of the community through effective proven strategies.
