FY 2004 Continuation Drug Free Communities Support Program

The Lords Pantry of Leon Inc. serves as the fiscal agent for the Leon County Community Coalition and serves central Texas, a rural area located 109 miles south of Dallas and 132 miles north of Houston, with a population of 15,667 of which 80.9 percent is Anglo. The Leon County Community Coalition will collaborate locally to: 1) reduce substance abuse among the youth of Leon County; 2) strengthen the Leon County Church/Community Alliance; and 3) intervene with children to prevent or delay the first use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. To achieve these goals, the coalition will continue to implement the following strategies: 1) work in conjunction with area faith-based organizations and professionals to spearhead the formation of a community faith-based alliance that includes parents, teachers, businessmen, and community leaders; 2) encourage the participation of all school districts to participate in Texas school survey; 3) implement the Leadership & Resiliency Program that targets youth ages 12-17 in Normangee and Leon school districts; 4) implement an after school mentoring program that develops leadership skills; and 5) identify retail stores that sell alcohol & tobacco and reinforce the law on selling to minors.CA/NCF