Initiative Foundation Receives National Award For Meth Efforts The Initiative Foundation and Morrison County were selected for one of 12 2006 National Sustainable Communities Awards, presented by the National Association of Counties. The award was given for the partnership between the foundation and the county to reduce methamphetamine use by working cooperatively through citizen task forces in the areas of enforcement, prevention, education and treatment. "Meth is the greatest threat to the health of rural Minnesota communities that we have seen in this decade," said Kathy Gaalswyk, foundation president. "Morrison County was one of the first in Minnesota to harness the power and passion of its citizens in the battle against this epidemic. We have taken the lessons learned from this partnership with Morrison County and are now forming similar coalitions across Central Minnesota and beyond." Morrison County's efforts to impact meth use include an additional drug enforcement officer, the addition of a drug canine officer, adoption of a meth lab cleanup ordinance, additional child protection protocols, and additional medical protocols for children removed from meth homes. Total drug arrests, which had risen in 2002 and 2003, have now fallen in both 2004 and 2005. Total meth arrests mirrored those changes. "Special thanks has to go to the Initiative Foundation for supporting our citizen task forces early on with resources, guidance and support," said Bill Block, county board chair. "Without them, it would have been very hard for us to begin this effort on our own. They are a phenomenal resource right in our own backyard, and we're lucky to have them." The foundation held a Minnesota ICE: A Rural Response to Methamphetamine conference in November to educate residents about the rural meth epidemic. Find an order form (PDF) for meth resources on the Initiative Foundation website. > More headlines

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