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

The Gateway MAP Team Coalition serves youth ages 8 to 18 in Yazoo County, Mississippi. The goals of the program are to: 1) reduce substance abuse among the youth of Yazoo County by ten percent over the next two years; and, 2) strengthen the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the coalition's efforts at substance abuse prevention, social ministry and community development. To achieve these goals, the coalition will implement the following strategies:
1) sponsor alternative drug-free activities for youth on a regular basis;
2) coordinate educational events with schools and faith-based organizations;
3) expand the STARS (Start Taking Alcohol Risks Seriously) for Families program that works to prevent alcohol use among at-risk middle and junior high school youth to two additional schools;
4) provide quarterly parent education and support forums;
5) expand the media campaign to include commercials on local cable television to increase awareness of youth drug problems and prevention measures;
6) increase citizen participation and greater collaboration among the faith-based community and other service organizations in the community;
7) recruit and train youth for coalition membership and leadership. CA/NCF