A local coalition working to combat community problems, especially drugs, is now seeking a prevention specialist to head up the group's efforts.

At the Thursday morning meeting of Sallisaw NOW, which stands for New Opportunities Working, the coalition officers, along with those in attendance at the meeting, approved the coalition's framework, including bylaws, the budget, statement of work, and advertising for a prevention specialist.

The coalition is being funded through a grant that Cherokee Nation's Community Anti-drug Network (CAN) received. As part of the grant, CAN is forming coalitions in communities across the 14-county jurisdiction, such as Sallisaw. Those coalitions will then set up programs in communities to target problems that are identified through research and planning.

Debi Bair, coalition vice chairperson, emphasized last week that the program is a prevention program and not a drug treatment program.

At the Thursday meeting, Julie Ferguson, who is assisting coalition chairperson Shaloa Edwards, explained that the group had to name a fiscal agent, which could be at least a three-year-old non-profit group or a local government. Sallisaw NOW has made the city of Sallisaw their fiscal agent. The funding for the program, including for staff and expenses, will filter through the city from the Cherokee Nation.

The group also approved a contract with People Inc. for the prevention specialist's services. The program will be housed at People Inc., and there will be a field office at the Boys & Girls Club of Sequoyah County.

Ferguson said the goal is to develop the program in Sallisaw for the first year and then eventually make the program countywide.

"Anybody can become a member of the coalition," Bair said.

Ferguson added that the coalition is made up of community members. Those who attend regular coalition meetings will be eligible to be on the board of directors and the executive board.

"It's everyone's coalition," Edwards said. "This can be a really good purpose."

The group discussed developing a strategic planning committee, with volunteers agreeing to meet July 15 at People Inc. Sam Bradshaw with Cherokee Nation said the committee will conduct assessments of substance abuse problems in Sequoyah County, finding the most prevalent problem and consequences. A strategic plan will be developed using special framework.

According to the coalition bylaws, the mission of the coalition is to "provide an opportunity for organizations and individuals to identify and develop plans of actions to address the needs and wants of the community."

In other business, the group heard a presentation from Pam Crutchfield with the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office about the "Picture Them Home" campaign. As part of the campaign, a transparent screen will be placed on the backs of patrol car windows, with the screens depicting pictures of missing children. The county sheriff's office has dedicated 12 vehicles to the campaign, she said. One vehicle will have two photos of Morgan Nick, a missing Arkansas girl, while the other vehicles will have photos of two different missing children. The program is an effort of the Morgan Nick Foundation.

Crutchfield said that the unveiling of the project will be July 18. She noted that Clarksville, Ark., was the first police agency in the nation to start the program, and on the second day a child was returned safely.

Sequoyah County will be the second agency in the country to have the screens on patrol cars and the first in Oklahoma.