Tuesday, May 6, 2025
5/6/2025
Burlington Healthy Community Coalition - Project Abstract Summary The Burlington Healthy Community Coalition (BHCC) Drug Free Communities grant project will increase community collaboration and reduce youth substance abuse in the Burlington-Edison School District by mobilizing community members and youth to reduce and prevent substance use in the community. In this five-year project BHCC members will increase leadership and collaboration skills of coalition members, increase opportunities for local youth to participate in substance abuse prevention coalition activities, and increase youth leadership and prevention knowledge and skills. By working with a wide range of community partners from a variety of sectors, BHCC is confident that the coalition will achieve measurable reductions in youth use of marijuana and opioids by the end of the five-year grant period. Community Overview of Burlington-Edison School District, Washington: The Burlington-Edison School District (BESD) in Skagit County, Washington is spread along the foothills and floodplains of the Skagit River valley. Skagit County is located between Seattle to the south, Vancouver BC to the north, the San Juan Islands to the west and Washington Pass to the east. The school district includes five elementary/middle schools and two high schools. Three of the elementary/middle schools are in unincorporated rural areas of the district. The 2010 US Census population for BESD was 22,062 residents in 8,818 households. The median age is 40.7; the age breakdown is: 1,327 Under 5 Years; 1,626 ages 5 to 9 Years; 1,395 ages 10 to 14 Years; and 1,370 ages 15 to 17 years. There is a total of 5,165 persons under age 18; these youth are the target population for our substance abuse prevention and reduction strategies. Racial and ethnic demographics of the 3,634 BESD students in grades K-12 are: American Indian and Alaska Native (0.7%); Asian (1.3%); Black or African American (0.6%); Hispanic/Latino (45.1%); Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (0.2%); Two or More Races (4.5%); and White (47.5%). 21% of students are English Learners. English only is spoken in 61.4% of homes; Spanish only in 30.4% of homes. 24% of the population 5 years and over speak English less than “very well”. Of the 1,115 foreign-born residents, 96% were born in Latin America. Many of these residents fill the need for both seasonal and year-round farmworkers. Residents are 51.1% female and 48.9% male. Median household income is $61,893. Approximately 16.9% of the population is below the federal poverty level, compared to 13.4% statewide. The community, like many others in the region, has experienced significant increases in the cost of living without the benefit of similar increases in income. 54% of BESD students are low income; free and reduced meal rates in the school district range from 25.5% to 71.8%, with a district average of 47.6%. In the 2018 Healthy Youth Survey, Skagit County 10th graders identified their sexual orientation as 78% Straight; 5% Gay or Lesbian; 7% Bisexual; 4% Not Sure; 2% Something Else, and 4% Don’t Know. Historically, the area was home to the Coast Salish Native Americans, who have lived and harvested salmon in the Skagit River and Puget Sound for millennia. Settlement by non-natives began in the 1860s, with European and Scandinavian immigrants drawn to cheap land and abundant opportunities in logging, fishing, and agriculture. Educational services, health care and social assistance currently employ 21.4% of residents, followed by 12.9% in retail trade. Manufacturing and construction comprise 9.8% and 7.9% of jobs, respectively. Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining account for just 5.0% of local employment. In the past decade the state has passed laws privatizing liquor sales and legalizing recreational marijuana, further contributing to permissive local norms.
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).