Welcome to GSSAC
Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council
GSSAC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to supporting the mobilization and collaboration of our community to prevent substance abuse and violence in Spokane County.
Awareness
We educate and inform about substance abuse and violence issues affecting our community.
Advocacy
We help create safe and healthy environments for communities across our region.
Action
We mobilize the community for positive social norms.
GSSAC is a member of the following organizations:
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Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
Northwest Alliance for Responsible Media
GSSAC Wins 2012 Agora Award
for Small Nonprofit
This spring The Greater Spokane
Substance Abuse Council (GSSAC) was extremely honored to have been selected
as the recipient of the Small Nonprofit Agora Award.
Following is a brief excerpt about the Agora Awards as
presented on the Greater Spokane Incorporated's web page.
What is AGORA?
In ancient Athens, agora was the marketplace where merchants gathered to
sell their goods. Over the past 20 years, more than 400 members of the
regional business community have gathered each May to celebrate business
excellence at Greater Spokane Incorporated’s AGORA awards ceremony.
What is the process?
Each year we solicit nominations from members, volunteers, past winners and
nominees, business owners and the general public. Nominees do not need to
be members of Greater Spokane Incorporated.
Nominees are asked to complete a preliminary questionnaire that provides
the information necessary for the judges to group the nominees into
categories – nonprofits plus small, medium and large businesses.
Additionally, the information is used to select semi-finalists in each
category.
Semi-finalists are then asked to complete a more extensive questionnaire.
Based on the information provided, the judges narrow the field to four
finalists in each category and conduct formal interviews with them. Judging
criteria include growth, marketing strategy, employee environment, customer
service,
response to adversity, strategic planning, creativity and contribution to
the regional economy. Winners are selected in the four categories plus the
C. Michael Archer Community Service and Entrepreneurial Spirit awards.
Who are the judges?
The 20 judges are all volunteers chosen from the regional business and
non-profit community.
Here are some of the comments
offered by the judges about GSSAC.
Two things became very clear when learning about Greater Spokane
Substance Abuse Council and that is "our youth is our future" and “our
current community members are our greatest assets."
Did you know that for every dollar invested in prevention there is up to a
$17 savings in treatment and justice system costs?
With prevention, you cannot put a number or dollar amount on the youth
who choose not to try drugs, or to the number of folks who designate a
driver. Each day with no crash, no overdose, or no suicide reported, is a
win for everyone in our community.
Doing more with less is not the ideal model, however. GSSAC has
leveraged this into providing critical education to at-risk populations of
youth in the Spokane community via non-traditional avenues of message
delivery – all with a “best practices” approach to prevention. This is a
highly
research-based program attaining measurable community results with few
resources other than a dedicated, mission-driven staff and volunteers who
make it happen.
It is time their efforts and successes are recognized and the AGORA Award
is powerful recognition of their long-standing efforts to prevent substance
abuse and violence in the Spokane community.
Congratulations Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council!
Prevention Works!