Grant to help reduce youth substance abuse

September 17, 2008

By Andrea Hirsch The Hendricks County Flyer Wed Sep 17, 2008, 05:19 PM EDT

The Hendricks County Substance Abuse Task Force was awarded a five-year, $624,745 grant from the Office of National Drug Policy’s Drug-Free Communities Support Program (DFC) to help reduce youth substance abuse.

Sen. Evan Bayh made the announcement earlier this week.

“We have an obligation to support efforts that will help our children grow up sober, safe and smart,” Bayh said in a press release. “The Hendricks County Substance Abuse Task Force has a strong track record of steering Hoosier teens toward healthy choices. Programs like this one play a key role in helping young people realize their full potential in life by avoiding the destructive consequences of drugs and alcohol abuse.”

The task force takes a multifaceted approach to reducing youth substance abuse. The DFC grant, awarded as $124,949 annually over five years, will fund after-school substance abuse prevention programs and implement a social marketing campaign directed at students who are in the sixth grade or older.

A portion of the money will go toward a full-time employee who will help coordinate and oversee implementation of the strategies outlined in the grant.

The grant funding also will operate a telephone “tipline” set up through the Hendricks County Community Center, allowing community members to anonymously report drug use to law enforcement and implement an anti-alcohol task force in law enforcement agencies countywide.

Pittsboro Police Chief Christi Patterson, president of the task force, said a portion of the grant money will also be used for the county’s SMART program (Stop Minors with Alcohol Response Teams). The program, which was started this year, is for officers to go out on the streets and look for nothing but underage drinking including at reported parties, football games, and extra curricular activities.

Maureen Belch, director of student assistance at the Brownsburg School Corporation, wrote the grant for the task force. She said the purpose was to help support a drug free lifestyle.

“I am thrilled that we received the grant and glad that our government consultant was able to help out a lot,” Belch said. “This funding will allow the task force to focus on implementing environmental strategies that will prevent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use by youth. Preventing youth from using illegal substances will enhance the community and strengthen families.”

The Hendricks County Substance Abuse Task Force was among 199 community organizations nationwide to receive funding under the DFC program this year through a competitive peer review process.

Since 1997, the DFC program has distributed more than $560 million in grants to more than 1,000 community anti-drug coalitions.

andrea.hirsch@flyergroup.com

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