Posted: 12/7/05
Three Minnesota foundations have joined forces in the battle against methamphetamine.
The Initiative Foundationís Minnesota ICE (Intervention, Care, Education) methamphetamine initiative gained momentum Friday when it was awarded $300,000 from the Bush Foundation and $200,000 from The McKnight Foundation.
The Initiative Foundation will use the funds to help central Minnesota communities develop citizen task forces to reduce meth use, manufacture and trafficking. It will also provide grants, training, staff consulting, educational forums and resources as part of its approach to challenging meth at the local level.
ěThese new grant investments give power to what we feel is the best anti-meth strategy,î said Kathy Gaalswyk, Initiative Foundation president. ěLaw enforcement alone cannot protect our loved ones from meth addiction. We believe it will take local people working together to drive it out of our communities, one hometown at a time.î
Educating communities about the dangers of meth has been a critical first step for the Initiative Foundation, according to program manager Ed Minnema.
In October, the foundation hosted a statewide meth conference and special forum for parents, teachers and students in St. Cloud, which attracted more than 2,400 concerned citizens.
It also launched an awareness campaign that included a special meth issue of IQ Magazine and a CD/DVD toolkit with videos, school curriculum and information for government leaders, parents, employers and healthcare providers.
ěIt is important for people to understand the gravity of the issue,î Minnema said, ěand that it isnít just the crisis of the month that will eventually fade away.î
For more information, contact Ed Minnema at 1-877-632-9255 toll-free or: eminnema@ifound.org.
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