Thursday, May 15, 2025
5/15/2025
Bridgeport United Coalition - Project Abstract:Coalition Name: Bridgeport United CoalitionApplication Agency: GBAPP, IncAddress: 1470 Barnum Avenue, Suite 301, Bridgeport, CT 06610Contact Phone Numbers: Nancy Kingwood, Executive Director, -phone 203-366-8255; Fax 203-338-8453Email Address: nkingwood@gbapp.orgWeb Site Address: www.gbapp.orgThe Bridgeport United Coalition began as a sub-committee of the Mayor's Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Council in 1996. It was expanded in 2006 under the Strategic Prevention Framework-State Incentive Grant form the Connecticut Department of Public Health and Addiction Services. The mission of the Bridgeport United Coalition is to reduce tobacco, alcohol and other drug use among youth and make Bridgeport a safer, healthier, and drug free city.The coalition had active involvement of youth, parents,k health and social service providers, faith, law and business people as well as elected officials. Based on data collection by Bridgeport United Coalition, youth in Bridgeport are exposed to substances (including alcohol, marijuana, and drug use by youth in the community. Surveys of parent show that over three-quarters are concerned about alcohol and drug use in the community. In addition, parents feel that youth have relatively easy access to alcohol (36% from a friend's home, 35% from a store, 23% from older siblings or friend) and prescription drugs (26%). Approximately 50% of the respondents felt that it would be easy for students in their child's grade to get alcohol, marijuana, or prescription drugs.Over the past five years under funding from Drug Free Communities, the fiduciary agency, GBAPP has provided leadership and the infrastructure that helps the Bridgeport United Coalition meet the grant requirements. The coalition serves Bridgeport, Connecticut, a community of 146,579 residents. The goals of the coalition are to/establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance a buse.The coalition will achieve its goal by implementing strategies that effect individuals as well as an entire community through: formalizing the coalition structure, continuous education training for members, engaging the local Board of Education and education-related stakeholders designed to increase the skills of participants, reducing access to alcohol, prescription drugs and marijuana by improving systems to reduce access to substances, educate parents and natural youth support through educational presentations, town hall forums, media presentations, advocate to change laws through legislative work and working with law enforcement to change practices in our local community. The coalition will also focus on prevention of opioid use, vaping and overuse in the general community.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).