FY 2004 Continuation Drug-Free Communities Support Program

Fairfax County Public Schools serves as the fiscal agent for the Unified School-Community Coalitions of Fairfax County. The coalition serves the suburban area of Fairfax County in Northern Virginia with a population of over one million residents of which the coalition's target population is approximately 78,000 secondary students. The goals of the program are to: 1) reduce underage drinking and other drug use among secondary students and, over time, among adults by addressing the factors in the community that increase the risk of underage drinking and other drug use and promoting the factors that minimize the risks; and 2) establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, private nonprofits agencies, and federal, state, and local governments to support the efforts of the community coalitions to prevent and reduce alcohol use and other drug use among youth.
To achieve these goals, the coalitions will implement the following strategies:
1) sponsor prevention education in after-school programs for middle school youth that deal with decision-making and life skills;
2) implement family programs for parents of middle school youth that focus on communication skills and family rules;
3) provide positive alternative activities for middle school students including after-school programs that promote student leadership;
4) strengthen the coalition through strategic planning, increased community collaboration and staff and member development. CA/NCF