Mission & Philosophy

Amistades, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) community development and substance abuse prevention organization serving the growing Latino population in Tucson and Pima County.  The mission of Amistades is to provide culturally competent leadership in the prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other substance abuse problems affecting Latino youth, families, and elderly. Aspects of the Amistades philosophy include promotion of youth development, reduction of risk-taking behaviors, and building assets and resilience.

Amistades Substance Abuse Coalition

Through federal funding, Amistades manages the Amistades Substance Abuse Coalition, a community-driven group that provides substance abuse prevention in the Flowing Wells area.  The Flowing Wells community consists of 13.1 squares miles in the City of Tucson Empowerment and Enterprise Zones as classified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Coalition’s goals include the reduction of alcohol and drugs among youth and enhancement of existing collaborative efforts in the community. The Coalition addresses the problem of underage drinking, marijuana and tobacco use, and is also concerned about inhalant abuse and prescription drug use among Latinos.  A vision to create healthy, productive, safe and drug-free communities is its driving force. The Coalition’s primary funding source is the United States Department of Health and Human Services - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) / Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) in partnership with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFCSP) and Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP).  

Using the CADCA model which requires representation from 12 community sectors, the Coalition has been successful in recruitment and retention of community members in the Flowing Wells area.  Coalition membership engages in ongoing community problem solving efforts to reduce substance abuse in the community.  The Coalition uses the following environmental prevention strategies:  multi-faceted, comprehensive grassroots substance abuse public awareness campaign; advocacy / support of current community awareness and mobilization efforts to adopt Social Host Ordinance and Unruly Gatherings Ordinance; alcohol diversion classes for Latino youth; campaign to monitor store signage (banners, posters, etc.) and advertisements that sell and promote alcohol to minors;  Latino substance abuse prevention training opportunities, and CUBs (covert underage buyers).

STOP Underage Drinking Project

In 2009, the Amistades Substance Abuse Coalition received funding from SAMHSA to enhance existing prevention efforts in the Flowing Wells area.   Enhanced environmental prevention strategies to reduce underage drinking include: youth driven media campaigns; social host enforcement awareness and education campaigns; multi-cultural (Latino, Native American, & African American) alcohol diversion classes; monitoring of storefront negative alcohol advertising, and providing multi-cultural underage drinking workshops to social services providers.

The Coalition has developed mutually beneficial relationships with community individuals, groups, businesses, schools, and a myriad of stakeholders.  Additionally, it has established collaborative associations with many local substance abuse coalitions and/or task forces in the Tucson metropolitan area to achieve the goals and objectives of its community prevention plan.  The Coalition uses a grass roots community approach and incorporates cultural considerations into its community engagement and mobilization. The Amistades Substance Abuse Coalition is committed to sharing its cultural expertise to increase community-wide capacity in cultural competence with other coalitions,   task forces, and prevention/treatment agencies in the area and state. 

Proyecto REGALOS

Amistades is a collaborative partner of the Arizona Youth Partnership grant funded by the Governor’s Office of Children, Youth, and Families. The purpose of the grant is to increase parent involvement in substance abuse prevention and to increase parents’ knowledge / understanding of the serious risks and public health problems caused by the abuse of alcohol and controlled substances. Proyecto REGALOS (Raising Every Generation to Attain Lasting Opportunities for Success) is implemented in the following three communities in Pima County: Flowing Wells, Marana, and Sahuarita.  Amistades Inc. manages the project for the Flowing Wells community. The project targets parents of youth ages 3-18 years of age to participate in a two-pronged family program which uses components from the Strengthening Multi-Ethnic Families Program and the Parent Pledge Platicas Program.  The project collaborates with the existing substance abuse coalitions in the area to recruit and retain participants. These coalitions include the Amistades Substance Abuse Coalition (Flowing Wells) and the Northwest Regional Coalition (Marana).

Latino Capacity Building Workshops

The Amistades hallmark is Latino cultural competency.  Amistades utilizes culture and history to provide training opportunities to address Latino substance abuse issues.  Through collaborative efforts with Latino preventionists, Amistades also utilizes a pool of consultants to build substance abuse prevention cultural capacity.  

Aztec Prevention Model

The Aztec Prevention Model addresses the historical, political, and cultural development of alcohol among the Aztecs and the collapse of their social structure after the Spanish conquest. Participants become familiar with Aztec social norms about drinking, examples of daily life and alcohol use, and the social policies and consequences of public intoxication. The workshop uses a cultural competent approach in prevention in the Mexican American community.

Razalogia Community Mobilization Framework

Razalogia Community Mobilization Framework incorporates a cultural cast of barrio characters to teach participants how to organize in the Latino community. The Razalogia framework identifies four community mobilization strategic areas developed by Dr. Roberto Vargas. The barrio cultural cast of characters is a unique presentation which focuses on individual and coalition transformative knowledge and empowerment strategies utilizing Chicano/Latino cast of characters who dialogue with the author and among themselves. This workshop provides a unique emphasis on Latino/Chicano worldviews and the incorporation of these worldviews into community mobilization and prevention efforts.

Using Chicano Values in Substance Abuse Prevention

This workshop addresses the issue of identifying, understanding, and utilizing Chicano core values such as confianza, el respeto, personalismo, la familia, el honor, compadrazgo networks, and barrio support systems, in the substance abuse prevention delivery system. The workshop promotes a cultural strength model and incorporates socio-cultural values found in Latino culture and community. The workshop also discusses personal and cultural conflict that results when indigenous values are not taken into account when substance abuse prevention services are delivered. This interactive workshop traces the participant’s personal and family history and allows them to openly discuss positive and negative experiences.

Community Awareness Special Events

Further Latino outreach and cultural competency efforts are promoted through annual community events.

Cinco de Mayo Non-Profit Celebration and Family Festival

The Cinco de Mayo Non-Profit Celebration and Family Festival promotes safe and alcohol-free events in the Flowing Wells community.  The concept was created by The Cinco de Mayo Con Orgullo Coalition in California and has spread to more than four states nationally.  The event is designed to promote a sense of community pride and spirit. Cinco de Mayo brings together children, youth, and families. Non-profit organizations in the Flowing Wells community are invited to set up an informational booth to connect with the community, explain their services, and distribute information. Speakers conduct presentations on the true historical significance of the holiday Cinco de Mayo. A goal of this neighborhood gathering is to Cinco de Mayo Non-Profit Celebration and Family Festival is:  our culture is not for sale. protect the cultural integrity of the festival by asking local retailers in the Flowing Wells area to refuse to display signs and in-store promotions that use Cinco de Mayo to sell beer and liquor.  The theme of the Cinco de Mayo Non-Profit Celebration and Family celebration is:  Our culture is not for sale.

Segundo de Febrero

Amistades commemorates Segundo de Febrero, February 2, 1848, the day the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed and consequently ended the Mexican American War.   Segundo de Febrero is a celebration of Mexican American history and culture by individuals and communities nationwide.  Amistades, Inc. joins national efforts in California, New Mexico, Arizona, and its place of origin, Tejas, to highlight political history and adopt it as a community-wide education and prevention effort.   Segundo de Febrero is an opportunity for all community leaders to increase awareness about the consequences of substance abuse.  At the heart of the Segundo de Febrero concept and commemorative activities, is the need to continue to recognize Mexican American contributions to American society. Of utmost importance is to preserve Mexican American history, and pass the torch to a new generation of leaders. 

Both events are hosted in partnership with community stakeholders who support alcohol-free social gatherings.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848 Project

Amistades is working with Congressman Raul M. Grijalva, Mayor Bob Walkup, Supervisor Richard Elias,  LULAC, Consulado de Mexico en Tucson, UA Mexican American Studies, The Catholic Diocese of  Tucson, and UA President Robert Shelton to host the original Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.  The Treaty (housed at the National Archives in Washington, DC) will be in Tucson for 30 days for public exhibition and educational purposes.  The community at large will be able to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain knowledge of the peace treaty that not only ended the United States/Mexico War of 1846-1848, but also gave birth to the Mexican American community in this country. The geo-political boundary between Mexico and the United States as we know it today was established by the Treaty.  This event will be a 1^st for Arizona.  Educational partners include Tucson Unified School District/TUSD Raza Studies.  Students are able to benefit from enhanced Mexican American curriculums built around the Mexico/US War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and the day that has been selected to commemorate it, Segundo de Febrero (February 2).  Support from individuals, groups, and businesses are helping Amistades make history and “bring the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo home.”

If you would like information about making a donation to support cultural competence and substance abuse prevention efforts, please contact Claudia Jasso-Stevens at claudiajassostevens@amistadesinc.org. Amistades, Inc. is a 510 (c) 3 non-profit organization.  Your donation may qualify for a tax credit.  Please seek guidance from a tax expert.

STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK





HISPANIC/LATINO INITIATIVE


Bilingual resources available at SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information https://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/

CSAP PREVENTION
EDUCATION TOOLS


Resources available at http://prevention.samhsa.gov/grants/drugfree.aspx