About Us

UMPQUA PARTNERS - For a drug-free future was formed in 2003 in response to growing concern about the impact of substance abuse in Oregon. Initial funding and guidance from Oregon Partnership and the Ford Family Foundation helped bring the citizens of Douglas County together to create a community drug prevention coalition to affect the community norms that fuel the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Today, Umpqua Partners, formerly Douglas County Communities Aligned to Prevent Substance Abuse (DC CAPS), is a member of the federal Drug-Free communities Support Program through the office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and serves as a catalyst for citizen participation in local drug prevention efforts. Umpqua Partners is comprised of diverse groups of people, including individual community members, community leaders, parents, youth, teachers, religious and fraternal organizations, health care and business professionals, law enforcement and the media.

UMPQUA PARTNERS - For a drug-free future has focused its strategies on preventing and reducing substance abuse through the efforts of our many volunteers.

What are we doing?

• Community forums on substance abuse issues
• Awareness and drug prevention media campaign
• School/Parent prevention networking and support
  Key Activities:
  • Underage drinking Town Hall
  • Drug Prevention resources on the web
  • Recovery Awareness 5k walk/10K run
  • Douglas County Drug Impact Index
• Drug-Free workplace education
• Networking opportunities for the business community
• Linking the business community with state and local policy makers
  Key Activities:
  • Supervisor Training
  • Drug Free Workplace Survey
  • Education and Network opportunities
• Promoting drug prevention communication and advocacy skills
• Establishing dialog between youth, peers, parents, and the community around drug abuse
• Building partnerships between schools, community groups, and the media
  Key Activities:
  • Truth, Lies, and Videotape Drug Prevention PSA Challenge
  • Middle school Drug Prevention Poster Contest
  • Youth Drug Prevention Leadership and advocacy

Honors

• Guest Presenter at the National Juvenile Justice Conference - 2006, 2007, and 2008
• Drug Free Communities Grant Award from the Office of National Drug Control Policy - 2006
• ODOT Transportation Safety Award - 2006
• Douglas County Public Health Heroes Award - 2006
• Governor's Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse Programs - Clark Campbell Media Award - 2005
• Community Action Drug Prevention Network - Outstanding New Coalition Award - 2004

Board of Directors
	Vic Fresolone - Board Chair
	Norm Gershon - Board Vice Chair Umpqua Training & Employment, Inc.
	Jay Middleton - Board Treasurer DCIPA Physicians of Douglas County
	Kris Besson Boys & Girls Clubs of the Umpqua Valley
	Pauline Martel BA CPS Adapt
	Preston O'Hara FCC Commercial Furniture
	Lonnie Rainville Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
	Sue Rifenbark Occupational Medicine
	Andrea Zielinski Douglas County Sheriff's Office
	In Memory of Charles McCart MD Founding Board Member
Healthcare Advisor
	Robert Dannenhoffer MD, CEO DCIPA The Physicians of Douglas County
Staff
	Patti LaFreniere Executive Director
	Shawna Weiser Administrative Assistant

Board of Director and Staff pictures taken by Robin Loznak photography, LLC