FY 2004 CONTINUATION DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES SUPPORT PROGRAM

Project Summary for 2001-JN-FX-0060 s3

The West Jackson Community Development Corporation is the fiscal agent for Community Drug Coalition. The coalition specifically serves the western area of the city of Jackson, Mississippi with a population of 12,000 and is 98% African-American. The goals of the coalition are to: 1) reduce substance abuse among youth and over time among adults by addressing the factors in the west Jackson community that increase the risk of substance abuse; and, 2) strengthen the collaboration among communities, governments, and private non-profit agencies to support community coalition efforts to prevent and to reduce substance abuse. To achieve these goals, the coalition will implement the following strategies:

1) provide ATOD after-school programs to prevent and reduce alcohol, tobacco and other drug use and its effects on children, youth, families and the community;
2) provide alcohol/drug awareness prevention educational workshops designed to teach 2nd and 3rd grade students to make healthy decisions;
3) provide weekly parenting classes, luncheon seminars, and after-school services for the parents and guardians;
4) expand the tobacco prevention trainings via skits, rap sessions, and the distribution of educational materials;
5) increase the number of youth participating in the summer enrichment programs;
6) provide awareness, education, and training of assets;
7) sponsor alternative drug-free activities for youth; and,
8) increase the involvement of the community in the coalition's efforts to decrease the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among youth. CA/NCF