$6 Million in Drug-Free Communities Grants Available

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the availability of new, Drug-Free Communities (DFC) support program grants. The deadline to submit applications for Drug-Free Communities grants is Tuesday, April 17, 2007. ONDCP expects to award approximately 60 new grants, totaling approximately $6 million, bringing the number of Federally funded Drug Free Community coalitions to nearly 750.

The Drug-Free Communities program is a collaborative Federal program sponsored by ONDCP and administered in partnership with SAMHSA, that aims to establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, private nonprofit agencies, and Federal, State, local and Tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions to prevent and reduce substance abuse.

"Youth substance abuse is at its lowest point in more than a decade, thanks in large measure to the concerted efforts of dedicated men and women working in prevention, treatment, and enforcement at the local level," said John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy. "The DFC program leverages their collaborative work with Federal support to develop effective ways to push back against local drug threats. A balanced, community-based approach will help ensure continued progress reducing substance abuse throughout our Nation."

The DFC program was created in 1997 under the Drug-Free Communities Act, and was reauthorized in 2001 and 2006. The latest reauthorization extends the DFC program for an additional five years, until 2012. Since 1998, ONDCP has awarded approximately 1,200 Drug-Free Communities grants in all 50 states. Each successful DFC grantee is provided up to $100,000 per year over a 5-year cycle to support community-based substance abuse prevention and reduction efforts. ONDCP partners with SAMHSA, the Coalition Institute, and the Battelle Memorial Institute to coordinate and measure the DFC program.

SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline, PhD said, "The Drug-Free Communities grant program provides the foundation for the Nation's substance abuse prevention efforts. These new grant funds will help even more communities across the country to mobilize effective strategies to prevent youth drug use and promote a more hopeful and healthy Nation."

To learn more about the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, or the upcoming grant application deadline, click here.