Drug-Free Communities Overview

The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program is the nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent and reduce substance use among youth. Created in 1997 by the Drug-Free Communities Act, administered by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and managed through a partnership between ONDCP and CDC, the DFC program provides grants to community coalitions to strengthen the infrastructure among local partners to create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use.

The DFC program is aimed at mobilizing community leaders to identify and respond to the drug problems unique to their community and change local community environmental conditions tied to substance use. More than 700 community coalitions across the country receive funding up to $125,000 per year to strengthen collaboration among local partners and create an infrastructure that reduces youth substance use.

The DFC program goals are to:

• Establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, public and private non-profit agencies, and Federal, state, local and tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance use among youth.

• Reduce substance use among youth and, over time, reduce substance use among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase risk for substance use and promoting factors that minimize risk for substance use.

In December 2020, Engage Douglas County was awarded a DFC grant. Engage Douglas County was formed in January 2019 in response to the Douglas County Community Health Plan facilitated by the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department. The Community Health Plan identified a variety of data points indicating that substance use was an issue in the community.

The Community Health Plan placed an emphasis on behavioral health and focused on moving from crisis as a norm to prevention and recovery as a practice. Within the plan, prioritizing prevention emerged as a top issue. Community partners were convened to begin assessing prevention needs in the county and building capacity to address identified challenges. Utilizing the Strategic Prevention Framework process, Engage Douglas County has developed a strong prevention plan with diverse community partners and continues to seek new partnerships within the community and grow youth prevention efforts.

The mission of Engage Douglas County is – Mobilize and empower Douglas County to reduce substance abuse and promote mental health primarily among youth through action, education, and collaboration. Coalition members are committed to the mission and work daily to embody the mission in our practices.

Additionally, Engage Douglas County supports the Douglas County Youth Prevention Board (DCYPB). This is a youth-led organization with the goal to create positive change within our schools and communities. Our group consists of youth from Baldwin, Eudora, Lawrence, and Perry Lecompton high schools. DCYPB provides opportunities for youth to learn more about leadership development, substance abuse prevention, and mental health promotion.