The Maricopa, Ak-Chin, Stanfield, and Hidden Valley (M.A.S.H.) Coalition consists of a group of about 20-30 concerned citizens who want to help make a difference. As Maricopa has grown, so have problems such as substance abuse and underage drinking: Included in that mix is methamphetamine use, which the Department of Justice has identified as Arizona’s primary drug threat.
The genesis for the group grew out of the City of Maricopa’s Safety Committee, under the leadership of Vice-Mayor Brent Murphee. The M.A.S.H. Coalition began on May 11, 2006, to develop goals and an action plan for the Maricopa area. The mission statement reads: “United as a community we will succeed.” The coalition aims to do just that by providing resources, promoting citizen engagement and creating innovative programs to help prevent and reduce substance abuse in this community.
Who makes up the coalition? Volunteers. Some are concerned community members; some are professionals in the medical, ministerial, social work or resource agency fields. Some are individuals whose loved ones, or themselves, are addicts or recovering addicts.
Each shares a desire to make this community and the surrounding area a better place to live, work and play.
Volunteers are working on parenting and grandparents raising grandchildren support groups plus finance and budget counseling sessions. Community drug awareness and education is another focus, including participating in community events, reaching out to all sectors of the community, and educating school-age children and their parents.
Joyce Hollis
M*A*S*H Coalition, Chair Person
