These two students won a free computer for
their participation in our community center programs.

The Valdosta Housing Authority Community Centers are run by Lowndes Drug Action Council.  LoDAC implements a full scale program to decrease youth involvement in drug related crimes, to build parent-child relationships, enhance school performance, improve self-esteem and boost the overall quality of life in the Authority’s housing developments.  These programs include, but are not limited to, pottery and ceramic classes, organized sports teams, parenting classes, tutorial programs, field trips, positive peer groups, guest speakers, drug education programs, and Kid’s Café. 

Hours of operation:

Monday through Friday 10 am – 6 pm (during the school year)
Monday through Friday 9 am – 5 pm (summer program) 

Ora Lee West Community Center Schedule

Variety of Programs

• Outside Activity, Kid's Workout (exercise program)

• Writing Program

• Kid's Café - a nutritious, hot meal

• Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE)

• Computer Class - Put on by the Valdosta State College School of Business

Hudson Dockett Community Center Schedule

Variety of Programs

• Outside Activity, Kid's Workout (exercise program)

• Writing Program

• Kid's Café - a nutritious, hot meal

• Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE)

• Computer Class - Put on by the Valdosta State College School of Business

 LoDAC Staff

Executive Director - Brian K. Hemming

Chairman - Robert Jenkins

Program Director – Derek Scott

Facilitator (Ora Lee West) – Dorothy Phillips

Facilitator (Hudson Dockett) – Christopher Brandon

Address:
Lowndes Drug Action Council, Inc.
601 N. Toombs Street
Valdosta, Georgia 31601
(912)333-5173 FAX

 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

LODAC's purpose is to provide information, education, intervention, prevention, and treatment for adolescents with high-risk behaviors. These areas include substance use, teen pregnancy, sexual behavior, suicide, juvenile delinquency, anger control and social skills. LODAC also provides community education and training for personnel who work with adolescents.

 GOALS:

LODAC's goals are to find new ways to coordinate health, justice, education, and other community organizations to provide comprehensive programs that will decrease drug and alcohol use among youth in general and among high-risk youth in particular; to reduce the factors that put youths at risk; to give teachers, school personnel, parents, and youth services a readily accessible referral source for those adolescents who are exhibiting "High-Risk" behaviors; to provide services to youths identified as having a problem with alcohol or other drugs, teen pregnancy, suicide, or to make an appropriate referral.

 FUNDING:

LODAC receives funding from the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, with some additional assistance provided by the City of Valdosta. LODAC currently receives grant agreement monies from HUD through the Valdosta Housing Authority. LODAC has previously received grants from the Georgia Bar Foundation, MH/MR/SA, and the Governor's Emergency Fund.

 PARTICIPANTS:

Adolescents are referred to LODAC by teachers, school personnel, the local community Mental Health Center, DFACS, Parents, and other Adolescents and Youth Services.

 STAFF:

The LODAC Staff consists of an Executive Director, Assistant Director, Office Manager/Secretary, 3 full-time Counselors, a Program Manager for Hudson Dockett and Ora Lee West Centers, 2 full-time Center Facilitators, and 2 part-time aides. The entire staff is involved in program implementation.

 HIGHLIGHTS:

LODAC is unique in that it is the only pubic, non-profit organization in the area specifically oriented toward children and adolescents. Further, LODAC represents a cooperative effort between City and County Government and between Public and Private Agencies. LODAC's fees are based on a sliding scale relative to income, but no one will ever be turned away due to an inability to pay.

 LODAC Programs

Student Assistance:
 In the Valdosta City and Lowndes County Schools, LODAC provides many services at no cost to the School Systems, Faculty or the Students. We teach classes in Study Skills, Social Skills, Mediation skills, and Drug Education. Additionally, we provide Managing Pressures Before Marriage, a sexual abstinence program, in selected schools. We also provide individual students with counseling and crisis intervention in the school. We facilitate and co-facilitate support groups for students and teachers in areas of wellness, self esteem, coping skills, grief and loss issues, and many others as the need arises. We refer students to outside help when needed and try to connect them with the appropriate agency or hospital. We also do teacher in service on a variety of topics such as facilitating support groups and recognizing at risk students.

Treatment and Crisis Management:
We provide employee assistance to families of Lowndes County and Valdosta City employees in areas of family concern. We refer these employees to appropriate agencies if necessary. We also work with parents and students who need outside help. This counseling is provided to adults on a limited basis but always at no charge.

Education and Community Programs:
LODAC is always available to community groups for drug education, training for youth workers, health fairs, parenting classes and information on problem issues. We also provide drug education for businesses that are participating in the drug free workplace programs.

Programs at Hudson Docket! and Ora Lee West Community Centers:
LODAC is fortunate to have received financial assistance to provide after school tutorials, field trips, educational programs and enrichment to the low-income housing areas in Valdosta. This includes a summer lunch program, computer education, gymnastics, swimming lessons, special events and programs and many other experiences for these children. Our focus is primarily on the children and youth of the communities. However, the GED program is also held at the centers for residents of the housing areas. We also provide parent education information at the centers.

Social Skills:
LODAC is proud to work with the Department of Children and Youth Services in providing a program for first offenders or youth on probation called Social Skills. This is a 20+ hour program at LODAC that teaches mediation, anger control, drug education, life choice skills and other skills to keep juveniles out of trouble. In the future, we hope to offer the Social Skills course community wide.

LODAC limitations:
LODAC has been fortunate to receive funds in the past to support numerous programs. However, a substantial amount of funding has been limited or eliminated entirely. New funding sources are always being sought and community involvement is crucial to future success. Manpower and funding remain a constant need.

 LODAC HISTORY:

LODAC began as an idea in March 1987. Four local attorney's had been meeting on a regular basis to discuss the impact drug trafficking and drug use were having on the community. Due to the dramatic rise in numbers of drug cases they were handling which involved adolescents, they decided to take action by approaching the Valdosta Bar Association to see if this group would consider creating a Drug Task Force. The four attorneys agreed to serve as a committee to look at what other communities were doing. This committee worked for approximately one-year gathering information on groups that were in existence throughout the state. 

In March of 1988, a group from Valdosta went to Warner Robins, Georgia to look at the Houston Drug Action Council, Inc. (HODAC). This group decided that Valdosta could form a similar organization based on the HODAC model. In May 1988. The planning group requested and received joint funding from the City of Valdosta and the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners. In August 1988, LODAC was incorporated and a Board of Directors was elected. This Board of Directors adopted by-laws and hired a consultant from HODAC to do a community needs assessment in order to identify gaps in services that were being offered and to determine which services LODAC needed to provide.

These results were presented at a town meeting in September 1988. Interviewing for staff began in October. In November 1988 the Executive Director and one Substance Abuse Counselor were hired. A secretary was hired in January 1989. LODAC implemented programs in two local schools and began a Social Skill Program for Juvenile Court clients in February 1989. Another Substance Abuse Counselor joined the staff in August 1989 as a result of an increase in LODAC's annual budget. Presently LODAC has employed 5 full time counselors. LODAC currently serves 18 local schools with an Early Intervention Program, Student Assistance Program and continues to provide classes for Juvenile Court clients. Other services include: Community Education, Support Groups, Individual Counseling, Study Skills and Teacher wellness. LODAC also serves the City and County employees as well as several area businesses with an Employee Assistance Program.