We have GREAT news! The Coalition was awarded one of only 87 Federal Drug Free Communities Support Programs Matching Grants (DFC). This is a 5 year award for $125k each year. In order to receive this funding and build upon what we have already started, BBCC must meet the following match requirements each fiscal year (FY). The Coalition's FY runs October 1 through September 30.

•          FY 2011-2012, $125K (100% match)
•          FY 2012-2013, $156,250K (125%match)
•          FY 2013-2014, $156,250k (125% match)
•          FY 2014-2015, $187,500k (150% match)
•          FY 2015-2016, $187,500k (150% match)         

Our match needs to be made up of financial contributions, in-kind donations (such as donated professional services and space) and volunteer hours.

Office Administrator, part-time, staff position: http://tiny.cc/6d6zs 

Accountant, contractual: http://tiny.cc/ippfj  

What is DFC? The philosophy behind the DFC program is that local drug problems require local solutions. With a small Federal investment, the DFC program doubles the amount of funding through the DFC program's match requirement, to address youth substance use. Recent evaluation data indicate that where DFC dollars are invested, youth substance use is lower. Over the life of the DFC program, youth living in DFC communities have experienced reductions in alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use. The DFC program helps local leaders organize to identify the youth drug issues unique to their communities and develop the infrastructures necessary to effectively prevent and respond to the disease of addiction.

What does this mean to you and our community?  Our substance abuse prevention efforts need to be a community-wide endeavor. As a DFC grantee, BBCC is required to have community stakeholders from 12 community sectors to help plan and implement prevention strategies to build and sustain greater prevention capacity.  (The 12 Community Sectors include: parents, youth, schools, government, law enforcement, faith, healthcare, business, media, youth-serving organizations, civic, and other substance abuse prevenion organizations.)  

BBCC will need community members, like yourself, to take on one or more roles to support prevention efforts. This support can be anything from leading a Parents for Prevention Group, helping with one of our programs/events/campaigns, making financial contributions, representing BBCC in the community, providing in-kind professional services, securing sponsorships, or serving in a leadership capacity. (A complete listing will soon be available)   

This will be BBCC's second and last 5 year DFC grant period. During our first 5 years, we did show documented improvements in youth substance use (BBCC collects community data via a bi-annual student survey). However, with the legalization of medical marijuana, the resulting perceived lack of harm of prescription drugs, and the continuing consequences from our State's failing economy, we now have some ground to make up.   

Our window of opportunity is right here, right now, to weave sustainable prevention efforts into the fabric of our community and ensure a safer, healthier, substance free future for our youth!   

Working together, with you, for substance free youth,

Carol Mastroianni           &        Kelly Michaud
Executive Director                    Youth Program Coordinator 

cmastroianni@bbcoalition.org    kmichaud@bbcoalition.org