Drug Free Communities Support Program
I am the co-author of the Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program, which is designed to reduce substance abuse among young people by supporting community anti-drug coalitions. There are now over 700 Drug Free Community anti-drug coalitions operating across the country.
History
The DFC Program began in 1997 when the Levin/Portman Drug Free Communities bill was signed into law. Rep. Portman (R-OH) and I had compared notes about our work within our districts with community anti-drug coalitions. I was working at the time with the Troy Community Anti-Drug Coalition and Mr. Portman was helping to establish a city-wide coalition in Cincinnati. From these conversations grew the Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC). Our partners in the Senate were Senators Grassley (R-IA) and Biden (D-DE).
Initially, the DFC program provided community coalitions small grants, which had to be matched by the community, of $100,000 to support broad-based community efforts to combat substance abuse. The law was strengthened in 2001 when the Community Anti-Drug Coalition Institute was established to provide the training necessary for more communities to join in the effort and to sustain the efforts of existing coalitions. The updated law also added a mentoring grant so that strong community coalitions could help neighboring communities start an anti-drug effort. The most recent reauthorization in 2006 boosted funding for community grants to $125,000.
A Community-Based Approach
It is crucial that communities around the country are organized to respond to their local drug problems in a data driven, comprehensive and coordinated manner. The DFC program recognizes that federal anti-drug resources must be invested at the community level with those who have the most power to reduce the demand for drugs -- parents, teachers, business leaders, the media, religious leaders, law enforcement officials, youth and others.
Since 1992, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) has been training local anti-drug coalitions in effective community problem-solving strategies. At the National Community Anti-Drug Coalition Institute, CADCA teaches local coalitions how to assess their local substance abuse-related problems and develop a comprehensive plan to address them. In other words, CADCA helps the local coalitions get smarter faster.
You may learn more about the Drug Free Communities Support Program on their website or find your local anti-drug coalition here.
Community Resources
- Learn more about the Drug Free Communities Support Program
- Find your local anti-drug coalition
- Kids: How to Make Smart Decisions
- Parents: How to Talk to Your Kids About Drugs
- More Information for Educators, Coaches, and Community Leaders
(Updated June 10, 2011)