Yellow Medicine County Awarded Drug Free Communities Support
November 2nd, 2011
Drug Free Communities Support Program has selected Yellow Medicine County as a new grantee in 2011. The agency providing the grant is the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Yellow Medicine County was one of 87 new grantees selected from 452 applicants through a competitive, peer-reviewed process. To qualify for these matching grants, all awardees must have at least a six-month history of working together on youth substance use reduction initiatives, have representation from 12 required sectors of the community, develop a long-term plan to reduce youth substance use, and participate in the National Evaluation of the DFC program.
Drug Free Communities supports the work of community coalitions which focus on environmental factors influencing drug and alcohol use among youth and their families. The coalition name is Chemical Health Coalition of Yellow Medicine County. The coalition was formalized in 2006 as a result of an awarded grant through the Mn. Department of Human Services, ADAD, but builds on existing collaborations and adds new stakeholders. Members of the coalition include: youth, parents, Yellow Medicine County Sheriff's Department, Yellow Medicine County Attorney's office, School administration and faculty, Public Health, Family Services, media, local businesses, and many others.
The Drug Free Communities program is directed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The DFC program provides grants of up to $625,000 over five years to community coalitions that facilitate youth and adult participation at the community level in local youth drug prevention efforts, including prescription drug diversion and prevention initiatives, as well as underage drinking prevention programs. Data show that communities receiving DFC funding have seen significant reductions in past 30-day use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana among middle and high school students.
The DFC program was created by the Drug Free Communities Act of 1997, and was reauthorized by Congress in 2001 and 2006. Since 1998, ONDCP has awarded nearly 2,000 Drug Free Communities grants to local communities. More information about Drug Free Communities can be found on the website.
