FY 2004 Continaution Drug-Free Communities Support Program

The Community Drug Board is the fiscal agent for the Summit County Juvenile Truancy Task Force. Encompassing the urban areas of Akron, Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, and Woodridge School Districts in northeastern Ohio, the county is comprised of 199,998 households. The coalition's primary goals are to reduce substance abuse among youth and, over time, among adults; and to establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, private nonprofit organizations and federal, state and local agencies. In order to achieve these goals, the coalition will implement the following strategies:
1) decrease the number of unexcused absences among the "at risk" population by 40% by providing prevention/intervention activities to 300 students deemed "at risk" that utilizes comprehensive, research based strategies that address identified needs;
2) increase youth understanding of the negative effects of substance abuse through a media campaign that includes PSA's, newspaper articles, billboards, student handbooks, posters, school open houses, and direct letters home;
3) increase the family's knowledge of the correlation between truancy and substance abuse through education and training;
4) provide alternative drug-free activities for youth and families; and
5) recruit members for and strengthen the coalition.
CA/NCF