Tuesday, May 14, 2024
5/14/2024
The Hialeah Community Coalition, Inc. (HCC), is applying for a federal FY 2018-19 Drug-Free Communities Support Program grant in the amount of $125,000 through the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and administered by the US HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Population to be Served: The HCC serves the City of Hialeah, in Miami-Dade County, FL. Hialeah is a large/vibrant city in the NW region of Miami-Dade County, FL. It includes the zip codes: 33002, 33010, 33011, 33012, 33013, 33014, 33015, 33016, 33017, and 33018. Hialeah is Florida’s 5th largest city with a 2016 population of 236,387 living in a 21.5 sq. mi. area. Hialeah has 33,328 children and youth 5-17 years of age. The city’s percentage of Cuban/Cuban Americans is the highest of any U.S city (74%). 94.7% of the population is Hispanic/Latino. 73.1% of the population is foreign born; 93.6% speak a language other than English at home. Over ¼ of the population lives in poverty and 35.1% under 65 years of age don’t have health insurance. As poverty has grown Hialeah is now more dangerous than 57% of other US cities. Multiple acculturation issues prevail as new arrivals seek to assimilate. It is difficult to engage families due to suspicion about police and government in general and ICE in particular. Latino families have cultural traditions involving alcohol use that contribute to underage drinking. The overall poverty rate and struggle of families to survive is a major concern. Hialeah families face issues common to inner cities complicated by limited capacity to negotiate American systems and culture. These conditions place youth at a higher risk of becoming involved in illicit and possibly dangerous activities such as drug trafficking. With 14.1% of the population between ages 5-17, Hialeah is a high-risk city for youth substance abuse. Strategies and Activities: Coalition Goals are to: increase community collaboration, and, 2. to reduce youth substance use. The coalition is focusing on alcohol and marijuana as the gateway drugs to more dangerous and deadly drug-use and negative behaviors. The coalition will achieve this by implementing the following strategies: reducing retail and social access to alcohol and marijuana; increasing awareness of the risk of harm of using these drugs and changing beliefs accepting of substance use; increasing surveillance; and influencing laws and policies to create greater protections for youth. Special activities include: recruitment, training and youth empowerment to increase community collaboration capacity; surveying youth to better identify youth drug-use trends and attitudes; increasing retail vendor compliance with prevention information and community pressures; increasing youth and adult awareness through Youth Dialogue Day and peer-to-peer Alcohol Literacy Training; increasing parenting for prevention using SAMHSA's Talk, They Hear You campaign and Safe Homes/Smart Parties; identifying "hot spots" for drug-transactions with increased LEA surveillance and reducing community physical conditions (such as lack of lighting in public places)conducive to drug transactions; and increasing youth opportunities for community engagement and service. Coordination with State and Local Health Agencies: The coalition will coordinate with all appropriate state and local health agencies including the Miami-Dade County Health Department as well as a network of health and behavioral health providers to implement various activities and promote change strategies and addressing health and mental health issues associated with substance use findings.
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).
