FY 2004 Continuation Drug-Free Communitiies Support Program

San Benito Prevention Coalition serves San Benito County, California, a small, agrarian community with a population of 53,234 of which 47% are Hispanic. To achieve the two goals of reducing substance abuse among youth and strenthening community antidrug coalitions, the coalition will implement the following strategies:
1) provide educational opportunities for parents and guardians to enhance family functioning and increase community awareness to the risk factors that lead to substance abuse;
2) increase the presence of protective factors that buffer youth from initiating substance abuse;
3) reduce gateway drug use among youth, and strengthen, support and empower families;
4) identify and prioritize the gaps in services to maximize limited resources;
5) increase youth involvement in drug- free activities; and
6) recruit and strengthen the community coalition by developing relationships with all key stakeholders in the community.
CA/NCF