EL DORADO HILLS COMMUNITY VISION, INC.

The El Dorado Hills Community Vision, Inc. is the legal entity that facilitates the ability to file and receive grants from federal, state, and local governments and corporate donors. It is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation recognized by the Internal Revenue Service and the California Franchise Tax Board. All contributions to this corporation are tax exempt and through this corporation, individuals can donate tax dedeuctible donations that can be used for coalition activities or other community services specified by the donor or, if not specified, determined by the Board of Directors.

For more information on the El Dorado Hills Community Vision, Inc. you can view the Articles of Incorporation and corporate by-laws.

VISION COALITION OF EL DORADO HILLS

The Vision Coalition is not a legal entity in itself, but is composed of a group of local interests dedicated to the delivery of services to community residents that provide resources and volunteers to carry out programs and activities using funding from the El Dorado Hills Community Vision, Inc. It has advisory groups that provide advice and recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Who is the Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills?

According to the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, "A coalition is a formal arrangement for cooperation and collaboration between groups or sectors of a community, in which each group retains its identity but all agree to work together toward a common goal of building a safe, healthy, and drug-free community."

The Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills is made up of individuals, community volunteers and leaders in El Dorado Hills, who represent youth serving agencies and organizations. This includes schools, business, government, faith community, fraternal organizations, law enforcement, parents, the news media, youth, recreation programs, and others who care about the youth of our community.

What is the purpose of the Vision Coalition?

The Vision Coalition was formed to help youth in El Dorado Hills by providing "positive youth development" opportunities, including financial support. Youth development opportunities are activities that increase knowledge and build strength, assets, skills, and talents to help young people reach their highest potential, in ways that are safe, healthy, and free from alcohol and drug use.

What is the source of Vision Coalition financing?

Funds from federal and private sector grants as well as donations from individuals and businesses in the community support the coalition's activities.

Who does Vision Coalition support?

The Vision Coalition supports the following:

• A Teen Council to advise the coalition on needs and interests of community youth.
• After school and weekend recreation opportunities for students in a safe, drug-free, and supervised environment.
• Mentoring programs, both peer counseling and adult to youth.
• Youth development, asset building and resiliency training.
• Alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention programs in schools.
• Youth developed media campaign that counters the alcohol and tobacco industry's deceptive advertising tactics with pro-health messages.
• A database of community volunteers that are available to teach young people positive health practices and skills in community service and recreation activities.
• Coordinating with law enforcement to reduce problems with drinking and drug use.
• Training and participation of local youth leaders to serve on a county teen court program. Encourage local youth drug offenders to participate in alternative programs.

Federal Requirements for a Drug-Free Coalition

The Drug-Free Communities Support Program supports community coalitions in their efforts to address and reduce substance abuse among youth. To be eligible for a Drug-Free Community Support grant, a coalition must meet the following requirements:

• The coalition must be an organization eligible to apply for a grant or must make arrangements with an eligible organization that will apply for the grant on behalf of the coalition and serve as the fiscal agent for the grant. Nonprofit, charitable, or educational organizations (such as faith-based and community-based organizations) and/or units of local government are eligible to serve as a fiscal agent.
• The coalition must have the reduction of substance abuse among youth as a principal mission. This must be clearly stated in the coalition's formal mission statement. The coalition's goals and objectives must target mulitple drugs and address the two major goals of the Drug-Free Communities Support Program.
• The coalition must demonstrate that its members have worked together on substance abuse prevention/reduction initiatives for a period of not less than 6 months before submitting its application.
• The coalition must demonstrate that it has substantial involvement and participation from its membership, as well as from other volunteer community leaders. It must be clear that the coalition functions as a unique entity and is more than a group of agency and organization representatives or a board of directors of a direct service delivery organization.
• The coalition must have representation from the targeted community and include at least one member/representative from each of the following 12 sectors:
  • Youth (meaning young persons themselves, not an adult representing youth)
  • Parents
  • Business community
  • Media
  • Schools
  • Youth-serving organizations
  • Law enforcement agencies
  • Religious or fraternal organizations
  • Civic and volunteer groups
  • Healthcare professionals
  • State, local, and/or tribal governmental agencies with expertise win the field of substance abuse
  • Other organizations involved in reducing substance abuse