The Faith in Recovery Prevention Coalition received a $125,000 grant this week from the Drug Free Communities program, funded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), to put towards substance abuse prevention programs at the county level.
The announcement was shared Thursday by Your Voice Ohio, which released the news on its website (https://yourvoiceohio.org/27-federal-grants-to-ohio-for-substance-abuse/).
More than $3.3 million was awarded through the grant program across the state with a total of 27 grants each for $125,000.
Christina Blair, Fayette County Prevention Coalition chairwoman and planner at the Community Action Center, had this to say Thursday about the grant:
“The Fayette County Prevention Coalition is honored to receive this opportunity to prevent substance misuse in our community. We have an amazing group of dedicated coalition members and with this federal investment, we can begin to effectively implement community level change and save lives. Thank you to every one of our coalition members, youth advisory board members, volunteers, and Congressman Turner and Senator Portman’s office for your support over the past year.”
Blair said the Fayette County Prevention Coalition is a subcommittee of the Faith in Recovery Prevention Coalition.
According to the news release on the Your Voice Ohio website, the goal of the Fayette County coalition is to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance use. The coalition promises to implement these strategies: provide evidence-based prevention programs in the local schools, provide PAX Good Behavior Games to Head Start and interested elementary school teachers, establish and assist youth-led prevention efforts in the middle and high schools, conduct evidence based media and social media campaigns, conduct workshops for parents on how to talk to their kids about substance use, and develop an inventory of alternative activities for youth in our community.
Ohio Sen. Rob Portman also issued a press release of the news Thursday from Cincinnati:
“The Drug-Free Communities program is a proven, evidence-based, community-oriented and accountable program that reduces substance abuse among our nation’s youth. Sadly, amidst the worst drug crisis our nation has ever seen, it is needed now more than ever. These 27 grants will help those on the frontlines in Ohio combat this crisis as we work together to turn the tide of addiction. I’m pleased that my Drug-Free Communities legislation is working to address the comprehensive challenge of combating addiction.”
