Friday, April 18, 2025
4/18/2025
WCGA DFC Coalition - WestCare Geogia, Inc. is proposing the area of Mechanicsville, an Atlanta neighborhood in Fulton County, as the service area for this Drug-Free Communities project due to the high need for SUD prevention and education programs in the area. WC-GA and partners formed a coalition to identify and address underlying causes of SUD among youth in the Atlanta area. The WestCare GA Coalition is committed to strengthening our community by providing strategic support and resources to fight against youth substance use. Our focus on alcohol, fentanyl, and prescription pills aims to reduce risk factors and promote protective measures, fostering a healthier, safer future for middle and high school students. For over one year, this coalition has active partnerships with various community leaders, including local law enforcement, schools, nonprofit and faith-based organizations, youth, parents, local businesses, media, healthcare professionals, agencies, and volunteer groups, aligning with the objectives of the DFC Support Program. This coalition aims to 1) Establish and strengthen the collaboration among communities, public and private nonprofit agencies, as well as federal, state, local, and tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance use among youth (individuals 18 years of age and younger) and 2) Reduce substance use among youth and, over time, reduce substance use among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increases the risk of substance use and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance use. WestCare GA Coalition will achieve the following short and intermediate outcomes by the completion of the grant period resulting in long-term outcomes for the Mechanicsville neighborhood in Atlanta, GA; establish and strengthen the collaboration among community stakeholders and organizations to address youth substance use and reduce substance use among youth and, over time, reduce substance use among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increases the risk of substance use and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance use. Goal One: Establish and strengthen collaboration among community stakeholders and organizations to address youth substance use. Objective 1.1: By 09/29/2024 increase WestCare GA Coalition membership by 35% (from 12 to 16 members) and the effectiveness of the Coalition as demonstrated by a recruitment plan, new member orientation, enhanced membership roster, and sustainability plan. Objective 1.2: (SPF 3 – PLANNING) - By 9/29/2022, enhance knowledge of prevention planning, programming and evaluation of coalition members and key stakeholders by 20% as measured by the annual Coalition Member Survey and pre/post training survey data. DFC Goal Two: Reduce substance use among youth and, over time, reduce substance use among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of substance use and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance use. Objective 2.1: (SPF 4 – IMPLEMENTATION) – By 9/29/2024, decrease past 30-days use by 3% from baseline among 7-12th graders by implementing environmental campaigns. Objective 2.2: (SPF 4 – IMPLEMENTATION) – By 9/29/2022 increase perceptions of risk or harm of alcohol, marijuana, and prescription opiate use by 3% from baseline among 7-12th graders by increasing knowledge and awareness. Objective 2.3: (SPF 5 – EVALUATION) – By 9/29/2024, obtain data from youth residing or attending school in zip code 30315 to document reductions in substance use and increased perceptions of risk/harm of use, parental disapproval and peer disapproval among 7-12th graders.
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).