Get Involved
The Fairfax Prevention Coalition is always looking for new partners and members! Whether you can attend every meeting or only want to receive emails and be involved in specific projects, all levels of involvement are welcome in the coalition.
About the FPC
The Fairfax Prevention Coalition (FPC) is a partnership of parents, youth, schools, healthcare providers, government agencies, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, media, nonprofits, businesses, policymakers and volunteers working together to combat substance misuse in our community. The FPC values community involvement, particularly youth involvement, as essential to our work.
Vision: The FPC envisions a healthy and safe Fairfax County community free of substance misuse.
Mission: The FPC mission is to work side-by-side within our community to provide prevention education and resources, empowering the Fairfax County community to understand, prevent, and reduce substance misuse.
Goals:
• Decrease the number of youth who are using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
• Increase youth perception of personal harms caused by alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
• Facilitate initiatives for the coalition to address youth substance misuse in our community
• Empower youth voice and leadership to support substance misuse prevention in Fairfax County
The FPC focuses on decreasing substance misuse within the Fairfax County community, particularly Youth Substance Misuse (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, opioids)
FPC Structure
There are three levels of involvement within the FPC, and each level has its own role and responsibilities:
Member
Members represent the Fairfax County community, attend monthly coalition meetings, and lead FPC activities. – MORE INFO
Partner
Partners represent Fairfax County government agencies, attend quarterly meetings, and support and amplify FPC activities. MORE INFO
Youth Team Member
Youth lead FPC activities in their schools and communities and attend monthly coalition meetings, acting as equal partners along with other FPC Members. MORE INFO
Contact FPC Coordinator Caitlin Viccora - click here
FPC Coordinator Caitlin Viccora is the main point of contact for the FPC. She may be reached via the contact form below or by calling 571-474-5513.
FPC One-Pager
Please share (via print, on social media, etc.) this one-pager with anyone who might be interested in joining the FPC.
FPC Member Guidance – Responsibilities
• Attend monthly FPC Member meetings (at least 6 meetings per year).
Time commitment: Meetings are virtual and usually about 1.5-2 hours. The goal is to move meetings to in-person in the future.
• Understand the substance misuse issues within Fairfax County and use this information to plan coalition activities
• Support the planning, promotion, and implementation of FPC activities
Examples: brainstorming community event support, representing the FPC at community events, presenting on panels and speaking events, advocating for reducing substance misuse in the community with local government officials, and sharing FPC activities with their networks
• Collaborate with the FPC Coordinator and FPC Partners on coalition initiatives
Examples: social media campaigns, events
• As an FPC Member, you are expected to take notes at an FPC meeting at least once a year (you will be provided with a template and directions on how to take meeting notes)
FPC Partner Guidance – Responsibilities
• Attend at least 3 quarterly FPC Partner meetings per year
Time commitment: 2-hour meetings, 4 times a year
• Share relevant resources, events, and activities at meetings and ad hoc via email so that the FPC Coordinator and FPC Member representatives may share with other FPC members
• Collaborate with the FPC Coordinator and FPC Member representatives on initiatives
Examples: Drug Take Back Days, social media campaigns, tabling events, awareness day events, etc.
• Provide relevant training and learning opportunities to FPC Members as needed
Examples: community prevention trainings, prevention messaging
• Provide input on FPC materials and resources as requested
Examples: reviewing flyers and website content
Current FPC Partners
- Fairfax County Health Department
- Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board
- Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services
- Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department
- Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
- Fairfax County Opioid Task Force
- Fairfax County Police
- Fairfax County Health & Human Services
- Fairfax County Public Schools
FPC Youth Team FAQ
Your Title Goes Here
What is the Fairfax Prevention Coalition (FPC)?
Fairfax Prevention Coalition (FPC) is a group of Fairfax County residents that are passionate about preventing substance use, particularly youth substance use. Coalition members meet monthly to discuss issues within their communities and to develop coalition activities to address these issues.
Who is involved with the Fairfax Prevention Coalition?
The FPC includes parents, youth, schools, healthcare providers, government agencies, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, media, nonprofits, businesses, policymakers and volunteers. Many FPC members are parents and community members who work together to prevent substance use in the Fairfax County community.
What is the FPC Youth Team?
The FPC Youth Team is a youth-led group that plans and leads substance misuse prevention activities in their schools and communities throughout the county. The FPC Youth Team works with the larger FPC on coalition-wide activities, but also plan youth-specific activities and events.
What is the time commitment for the FPC Youth Team?
The FPC Youth Team membership is a 6-month commitment, with the opportunity to extend involvement. FPC Youth Team members will commit to attending monthly Youth Team meetings (mix of in-person and virtual meetings) and weekly check-ins with the FPC Coordinator and their project teams (mix of email and brief virtual meetings). Transportation will be provided for in-person meetings. Youth Team members also have the option of attending monthly full coalition member meetings.
What are examples of FPC Youth Team activities?
FPC Youth Team members do things like: create social media campaigns, host substance-free events, speak on panels, design and star in their own Public Service Announcements, create art that educates the community about substance use prevention.
What do youth gain from being involved in the FPC Youth Team?
FPC Youth Members can earn volunteer hours, gain leadership and event planning skills, and develop and complete prevention projects that look great on college applications.
Click HERE to Contact FPC Coordinator Caitlin Viccora
FPC Coordinator Caitlin Viccora is the main point of contact for the FPC. She may be reached via the contact form below or by calling 571-474-5513.