Saturday, April 19, 2025
4/19/2025
Dallas Area Drug Prevention Partnership-South (DADPP-South) - Dallas County is a large, dynamic, and diverse area. With over 2.6 million residents, it is a part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, made up of some of the fastest-growing cities and counties in the state of Texas with a combined population of almost 7 million people. Dallas County is home to over 20 Fortune 500 companies with many more notable companies either home-based or with a regional presence. Most days, there is news of another large corporation moving into the area – attracted to the strong employment base, growing suburbs with good housing and top-rated schools, tax incentives, proximity to an international airport, and of course, a vibrant arts, entertainment, sports, and social scene. Despite this vigorous and spirited environment, as well as neighborhoods of great wealth, there are areas in Dallas County where income disparities, health inequities, and crime are the norm rather than the exception. Many have higher incarceration rates, lower average household income, and higher number of drug-related offenses compared to more affluent areas. Currently, data on youth drug use has only been available on a county-wide/regional basis but we recognize there are unique characteristics in these “communities within the community”. Accordingly, data collection and subsequent prevention strategies require a unique and innovative approach, customized to the specific trends in that area. We, as a community, cannot continue to showcase all the positive aspects of Dallas, while dismissing the weaknesses that exist in some parts of our community – weaknesses that negatively affect the lives of its citizens. We believe it is about respecting and wanting the best for those that live and work in these marginalized areas. Our coalition, Dallas Area Drug Prevention Partnership-South (DADPP-South) has identified six zip codes in Dallas County experiencing the greatest challenges of the area: crime, drug use, poverty, poor employment opportunities, lack of healthy food options, aging schools and infrastructure. Even so, this community has many citizens and groups that strongly desire a revitalization but know it will take a cohesive and unified effort to create real change. DADPP-South has developed critical relationships within this community to increase collaboration and create best-practice drug prevention strategies. The goal of DADPP-South is to implement evidence-based environmental strategies aimed at population-level change in our target zip codes by 1) limiting youth access to substances; 2) changing the culture and context within which decisions are made about substances; 3) shifting the consequences associated with youth substance use; and 4) addressing issues related to health disparities and promoting health equity. Drug and alcohol misuse, and the problems it creates, will impede the best efforts of almost every other community initiative due to its pervasive negative effect, and accordingly, prevention is an important component. By working together as a coalition, this collaborative effort is based on the simple premise that local people are in the best position to solve local problems, including the prevention of problems before they occur. Coalitions recognize that people are more likely to support what they help create, and change is most likely to occur when the process engages multiple sectors of a community in a cooperative approach. DADPP-South is made up of concerned citizens representing the various community sectors, each with their own unique expertise, networks, influence, and perspective. Together, we will work to facilitate accurate data collection and dissemination, conduct public awareness campaigns, promote health media messages, conduct community outreach, and educate youth, parents, and the community at large. As a result, we believe that our strategies will ultimately reduce and prevent youth drug and alcohol misuse in the community we serve.
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).