Led by Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez, the local action team is composed of Community Guidance Center Director Josephine Sablan, CGC prevention services manager Reyna M. Saures, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual representative Michael Manglona, domestic violence investigator and women representative Andrea Ozawa and Department of Corrections Commissioner Lino Tenorio.
They drafted the action plan during the three-day summit in Washington, D.C. attended by delegates from 20 states and territories.
Saures said their action plan focuses primarily on the strengths and gaps of local efforts to address methamphetamine use, its distribution and supply, and the direct and indirect consequences.
The action plan, which is now being reviewed by federal authorities, aims to
• Create awareness and share information about methamphetamine use in the CNMI with individuals, families, schools, workplaces and communities.
• Develop an education campaign that encompasses the target populations — justice-involved individuals, women, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexual persons.
• Share information and develop strategies for supporting families impacted by methamphetamine use.
• Improve data systems across agencies for more efficient data collection and reporting on methamphetamine use in the CNMI.
• Identify culturally and linguistically appropriate and relevant products that reflect promising areas of research and evidence-based practices that can be reviewed, modified, implemented, and evaluated to best meet the needs of the CNMI communities.
• Forge collaboration with local and federal coalitions, agencies and organizations to develop comprehensive plans that will address methamphetamine use, distribution, and supply in the CNMI.
