Drug Free Communities (DFC) Grant
In August 2008, CARES learned they were awarded the Drug Free Communities (DFC) Grant. The grant is $125,000 per year up to $625,000 over five years and the fiscal year began on October 1, 2008. The grant will allow ADACCV to provide guidance and direction towards the successful accomplishment of specific substance abuse prevention strategies and methods for the CV CARES Coalition. US Representative Mike Conaway presented the check to ADACCV on behalf of CARES on November 3rd. Julie Alonso is the Program Director and E. Angelina Osornio is the DFC Coordinator.

Drug Free Communities (DFC) Grant Purpose
Grants awarded through the Drug Free Communities program are intended to support community-based coalitions. Coalitions receiving DFC funds are expected to work within their "target" communities to identify and address local substance abuse problems. Coalitions should engage local leaders in an ongoing effort to better understand local challenges and to generate lasting change in the community. Coalitions are expected to develop and utilize environmental strategies based on a community systems perspective that views a community as a set of persons engaged in shared social, cultural, political, and economic processes.

Area Covered:
Concho Valley Counties (13 total): Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Kimble, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reagan, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, and Tom Green

Goals:

1. Establish and strengthen collaboration among Concho Valley's private nonprofit agencies, and Federal, State, local, and tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth.
2. Reduce substance abuse among Concho Valley, TX youth and, over time, adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of substance abuse and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance abuse.

Objectives:

1. Strengthen the coalition's capacity to become an effective force in reducing substance abuse in our diverse community.
2. Advocate for policies and practices that aide in the reduction of substance abuse among youth and overtime adults.
3. Partner with and enhance existing environmentally based programs and community efforts aimed at reducing substance abuse.
4. Increase the knowledge of school personnel and community members regarding substance abuse problems, it's prevalence in the community, and available resources to address the issues.
5. Conduct a community awareness campaign on the negative effects caused by the availability of drugs and alcohol to youth through local retail and social sources.
6. Utilize youth committee to address youth's perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs about drug use.
7. Enhance area families through relationship building and by educating and promoting parenting as an effective prevention tool. 

Problem Statements:

1. Social and community norms and values favorable toward drug use
2. Availability and accessibility of substances
3. Parent and youth misperceptions contribute to youth drug use

Risk Factors:

1. Community laws and norms favorable toward drug use
2. Availability of drugs
3. Extreme economic deprivation
4. Family management/structure problems - lack supervision, clear expectations
5. Early initiation of the problem behavior

Protective Factors:

1. Coalitions and community partnerships with resources to combat risk factors
2. Spiritual presence in neighborhoods and community
3. Caring school system and leadership