Saturday, April 20, 2024
4/20/2024
The Decatur Prevention Initiative (DPI) is seeking to become a recipient of the prestigious Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant, offered by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in cooperation with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The DPI Coalition serves the City of Decatur, Georgia, a community with over 21,000 residents. DPI's vision is a community, free of the negative effects of substance misuse on youth and families. Our mission is to transform the community as a whole by addressing the root causes of youth substance misuse while identifying and coordinating local resources to implement evidenced-based strategies systematically. DPI has provided quality prevention services in Decatur since 1991. The coalition was formed in 2011 and has been growing steadily to include a broad range of community sectors. Our members include organizations and members that have a wide sphere of influence and can bring about change. The goals of this grant are to 1) strengthen community collaboration, and 2) reduce youth substance abuse. DPI will achieve these goals by using the Strategic Prevention Framework model and implementing a full range of strategies that have been shown to bring about community-level change. These will include providing information, enhancing skills, providing support, enhancing access/reducing barriers, changing consequences, physical design, and modifying/changing policies and procedures. DPI has been conducting needs assessments since 2011, using local and current qualitative and quantitative data. The most recent assessment has guided the action plan for this proposal, identifying both root causes and local conditions. DPI will focus on youth alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana use, including the emerging trend of vaping nicotine and marijuana. Data shows that we have unacceptable levels of youth involvement in substance use. Some of the root causes have been determined to be a low perception of risk (consequences) for using these substances, low perception of peer and parental disapproval, and social access. The coalition will also work with the community to encourage consistent and equitable enforcement of policies, procedures, and ordinances regarding these substances. The coalition has, through longitudinal measurements, determined that Decatur is a community that is ready for change, and this grant will provide the opportunity to focus our resources on implementing our action plan successfully. The community has shown their support for our past efforts through countless hours of volunteer service and a dedication of local resources to positively impact the health of our youth. Decatur can bring about community-level change, with the combined efforts of our sector members and the community a-large.
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).
