WestCare Texas and the DFC-F.A.C.E. Coalition will prevent the use of alcohol, marijuana and opioids -- especially fentanyl -- among youth ages 12-18 in the border area of Laredo, Texas. - WestCare Texas, Inc. and the Drug Free Communities-Families Assistance & Community Empowerment Coalition (DFC-F.A.C.E.) of Laredo, Texas, seeks Year 6 Drug-Free Communities funding to continue serving youth ages 12-18 in Laredo, Texas, preventing the use of alcohol, marijuana, and opioids, especially fentanyl. The project area ZIP code 78046 lies in the border area of Laredo and includes the communities of La Presa, Rio Bravo and El Cenizo. The population is 95.5% Hispanic or Latino, 68% White alone, 26.7% Two or more races, 3.2% White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, .5% Asian alone, .4% Black or African American alone, and.2% American Indian alone or Alaska native alone. These communities are rural, and in the “colonias” of Rio Bravo and El Centizo, resident are often without basic services such as clean drinking water. Economic conditions in Laredo are challenging; just 1% of the population holds a graduate or professional degree. The annual salary wage reported is $42,535 in Laredo, significantly lower than the state average of $60,629. The percentage of residents with income below the poverty level in 2019 was 26.7%. There are significant health disparities among residents and because of its geographic area, youth are in ongoing proximity to drug trafficking: The South Texas border area is a principal drug smuggling corridor between the United States and Mexico. Laredo’s youth live in this environment of heavy drug trafficking and become accustomed to the presence of drug traffickers, including family members who are involved in this activity. The region greatly influences national drug trafficking and availability. Proximity to trafficking results in high prevalence of usage. Consequently, the need for this program is high as the closest DFC-funded program to Laredo is more than 150 miles away. The DFC-F.A.C.E. Coalition is a dynamic, cross-sector group of partners with representation from all aspects of the community and embrace the mission of the Coalition, which is to improve the quality of life of youth and their families in the community by implementing drug-free strategies, engaging stakeholders, promoting a drug-free community, and improving the health and wellbeing of the community through awareness and alliances that empower, educate and support families. Through culturally adapted, bilingual strategies, services and events, DFC-F.A.C.E. will achieve the following outcomes in Year 6: By 12/29/2023, DFC-F.A.C.E. will increase membership across each of the 12 sectors by 100% as measured by the membership roster; Illegal drug use by youth agegs12-18 will be reduced by 5%; the perception among youth of peer disapproval of substance use will be increased, as will the perception of parental disapproval; local policies and practices will be changed to impact and change cultural norms surrounding substance use; and access and availability of youth to illegal substances will be decreased.
