Building an Informed and Engaged Citizenry

Building an Informed and Engaged Citizenry

The health and wellbeing of communities are tested when there are dense concentrations of alcohol and tobacco retail outlets, marijuana is abundantly available, and secondhand exposure to smoke is ubiquitous.  So, it is up to concerned stakeholders to weigh in and ensure that there is a responsible balance between personal freedoms and the public interest. 

 Fighting Back Partnership’s Civic Engagement Department is a leader in building citizen and diverse sector support for evidence-based policies that curb the negative impacts of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) use in communities.  Through rigorous research, development, and promotion of public policy solutions to reduce access and availability of ATOD, particularly to youth, Fighting Back Partnership works with public officials, concerned citizens, and businesses to build stronger, healthier communities that benefit everyone.

Coalition Support – Training and Technical Assistance

And because Fighting Back Partnership has a rich, demonstrated history of developing, implementing and evaluating evidence-based strategies to reduce ATOD use and its related harms in Vallejo, the organization now provides technical assistance and training to prevention coalitions throughout Solano County.  In addition, Fighting Back coordinates the Solano County ATOD Prevention Collaborative, which likewise has the mission of reducing ATOD use among youth in the County.  

The Solano County ATOD Prevention Collaborative meets quarterly in February, May, August, and November.

For more information or to participate in this important work, contact Dante De La Cerna, Civic Engagement Manager at (707) 651-7180 or ddlcerna@fight-back.org.

Vallejo Community Change Coalition

To optimize effectiveness, we understand that creating well-adjusted youth must also include support for their families and the schools that they attend.  

Fighting Back Partnership’s Family Engagement Strategy offers academic, physical, and social support for children 0 – 18 and their parents, with the goal of increasing parent participation in their children’s educational and social development.

Fighting Back Partnership Supports VCUSD's  Full Service Community School Strategy to provide comprehensive academic, social, mental, and physical education services in Vallejo’s public schools so that youth and their families identify a clearer pathway from preschool to college and career.

Current Committees

• Retail/Smoke-Free Outdoors Committee:  This committee is currently focused on reducing tobacco sales to minors in Vallejo by doing what over 100 communities across California have done - requiring all tobacco retailers to obtain an annual license to sell tobacco products. The annual license fee would fund an enforcement program to make sure that retailers that sell to minors are held accountable.  The committee is also working to reduce secondhand smoke exposure in public outdoor areas, particularly for youth and the elderly. 

• Marijuana Committee: This committee is currently focused on reducing youth access to marijuana by promoting strong regulation of medical and nonmedical marijuana sales, cultivation, delivery, and manufacturing in Vallejo. 
• Healthy Air Vallejo Committee: This committee is currently focused on educating the community about the harms of secondhand smoke exposure in apartment complexes and how a smoke-free policy can reduce this harm. 

To join or for more information, contact Dante De La Cerna, Civic Engagement Manager, at (707) 651-7180 or ddlcerna@fight-back.org.

The work of the VCCC is made possible by the Solano County Public Health, the Solano County Board of Supervisors, and the California Department of Public Health, California Tobacco Control Program.

Our success is demonstrated by:

1. Reductions in ATOD use, particularly among youth. 
2. Policies that mitigate the harms of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use and sales.
3. Residents that are protected from secondhand smoke in public places.
4. An increase in public awareness regarding the harms of ATOD
5. Increase in community participation in public health campaigns.