UNIDAD is the coalition arm of the RGV Council, Inc.

The sole purpose of UNIDAD is to foster and develop Partnership Steering Committees forming a network coalition.  These committees are groups of community members who represent the County Partnerships in joint projects. 

The projects include identifying community needs, setting priorities among those needs, planning programs to meet the needs and carrying out the programs planned with the ultimate goal of reducing substance abuse in our communities. 

Each partnership elects officers from among its members.  UNIDAD is the bridge to all these partnerships fostering a network of community action at the local level.  Representation requirements were set by CSAP in 1995, and the UNIDAD Coalition has involved the required sectors since the Coalition was formed in 1996.  The coalition seeks representation from the targeted community and includes representation from each of the following sectors

The coalition seeks representation from the targeted community and includes representation from each of the following sectors:

• Youth (meaning young persons themselves, not an adult representing youth)
• Parents,
• Business community
• Media
• Schools
• Youth-serving organizations
• Law Enforcement agencies
• Religious or fraternal organizations
• Civic and volunteer groups
• Healthcare professionals (especially from the behavioral health field)
• State and local governmental agencies
• Local mental health and/or substance abuse authority representation