FY 2003 Drug-Free Communities Support Program Application for Continuation Funding

The Blair Countians for Drug-Free Communities serves Blair County, Pennsylvania, a mix of suburban and rural areas with a population of 129,144 of which 22% are under the age of 18 years of age. The goals of the program are to: 1) reduce substance abuse among youth; 2) create and sustain successes in meeting the priorities established by the coalition by reducing the availability of alcohol, tobacco and other illicit drugs; 3) strengthen Blair Countians for Drug-Free Communities as a coalition; and 4) provide ongoing and continuous feedback with regard to the ongoing efforts in order to produce outcomes measurable by changes in alcohol and drug abuse. To achieve these goals, the coalition will implement the following strategies:
1) implement evidence-based elementary curriculum with impacts on at-risk behaviors;
2) create and reinforce a non-use norm among adolescents and teens through environmental strategies and media campaigns;
3) increase monitoring and supervision of children by creating positive parental attitudes toward preventing alcohol and other drug abuse through media campaigns and educational presentations;
4) support underage drinking initiatives and media campaigns that focus on availability of substances and community reporting of drug dealing; and
5) develop a strategic plan that strengthens the coalition's mission and membership, and includes data collection to evaluate the impact of coalition activities.
CA/NCF