What is Community Mobilization Against Substance Abuse and Violence (CM).

Effective prevention of alcohol, tobacco, drug use, and violence requires communities to become organized and strongly motivated to meet the challenge. Successful prevention efforts require that a community find a structure and process that encourages a variety of independent, local organizations to cooperate effectively in the delivery of prevention services. In Washington State that structure and process is the CM model. 

Community Mobilization provides vision. CM’s vision is community members participating in creating and sustaining healthy, safe, economically viable communities, free from alcohol, tobacco, other drug (ATOD) abuse, violence, and all related social issues. Local CM Coordinators make this a reality by pursuing CM’s mission to effectively address the problems of ATOD abuse and violence by promoting: collaboration, cooperation, communication, commitment, and cultural competency. CM funds and supports local community organizing efforts, services and projects directed toward ATOD and violence reduction within every county in Washington State.

Community Mobilization Against Substance Abuse and Violence has active community coalitions working throughout Washington. CM was established in 1989 by the Washington State Legislature to address the issues of substance abuse and violence through the organized and collaborative efforts of entire communities.

Community Mobilization is a local resource. Since the inception of CM, local CM Coordinators are recognized as their county’s central resource point for all prevention efforts.

Community Mobilization provides leadership. Successful community-based prevention programs build upon the efforts of a variety of grassroots and locally based organizations. CM leadership stimulates change and ensures that prevention efforts are culturally appropriate and effective. One of the most important prevention lessons learned throughout the last two decades is that prevention cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be led from inside the community to be effective. CM brings local leaders to the table.

Community Mobilization is based upon research. CM uses the Communities That Care (CTC) model in promoting the positive development of children and youth, and the prevention of substance abuse and violence. CM is based on rigorous research from a variety of fields, including sociology, psychology, education, public health, criminology, medicine, and organizational development.

Community Mobilization is locally driven. The CM Program requires an active governing board that represents the local community perspective.

Community Mobilization is based upon partnerships. CM programs are directly involved in many networking efforts that have developed as a result of community representatives working together to share information.

How Community Mobilization is Funded.  Community Mobilization provides funding in all 39 Washington Counties each biennium. Funding comes from the state Violence Reduction and Drug Enforcement (VRDE) account, and from the federal Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities grant.