BOSTON – Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy today announced that 29 Massachusetts organizations will receive a total of $2,837,743 in federal funding through the Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC). 

“Drugs threaten our kids and our communities. These education and community-wide prevention efforts will save lives. I am glad that so many of our state’s great programs will receive the financial help they need to keep our neighborhoods safe, healthy and drug-free,” said Senator Kerry. 

Melissa Wagoner, spokesperson for Senator Edward M. Kennedy said, “The health and safety of the nation’s children should be a top priority for the Congress. This funding is important in enabling our communities to develop positive environments for children to thrive and reach their full potential, and avoid the use of drugs.”

The DFC program was created in 1997 with the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997.

It is directed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in partnership with the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration. The program is designed to support communities as they mobilize individuals and organizations to push back against youth drug use.

The following Massachusetts organizations will receive funding:

Grantee Name Award Amount

Revere CARES $76,071

Holyoke Youth Task Force $100,000

Fall River Area Prevention Coalition $100,000

Everett Community Health Improvement $100,000

South Boston Families Advocating Neighborhood Strength $100,000

Allston-Brighton Substance Abuse Task Force $100,000

Medford Matters $100,000

Mason Square Coalition (Springfield) $100,000

Healthy Gloucester Collaborative $98,884

North Berkshire Community Coalition (North Adams) $100,000

Strategic Planning Initiative for Families & Youth (Northampton) $100,000

Coalition for Teens (Greenfield) $100,000

Mayor’s Task Force to Reduce Substance Abuse (Newburyport) $75,618

North End Campus Concept Coalition (Springfield) $100,000

Somerville Cares About Prevention $100,000

Watertown Youth Coalition $100,000

Stoughton Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition $100,000

Brockton’s Promise-Drug Free Communities $100,000

Winchester Substance Abuse Coalition $100,000

Weymouth Youth Coalition $100,000

The Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition $100,000

Community Against Substance Abuse Inc. (Winthrop) $100,000

Melrose Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition $87,170

Plymouth Youth Development Collaborative $100,000

Grove Hall Safe Neighborhood Initiative (Boston) $100,000

Middleboro Youth Advocates $100,000

Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse $100,000

Dorchester Substance Abuse Coalition $100,000

The Pittsfield Prevention Partnership Community Coalition $100,000


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