Tuesday, May 13, 2025
5/13/2025
Drug Free Communities Grant (Year 1 NEW) - Western Weber Communities that Care - In the 1984 film “Footloose,” a community of adults came together to ban alcohol, dancing, and other behaviors that they considered risky. They were doing their best to protect their youth and their town with their limited knowledge. Without using data, the adults assumed the issue was now under control but it was not. Western Weber CTC (WWCTC) serves a Utah community that was not much different than that fictional “Footloose” town. In its recent past, it was a rural, religious farming community. Now it is a rapidly growing collection of suburbs. Of the 5 cities within WWCTC’s boundaries, one grew 18% in population from 2020 to 2022. The high school is full beyond capacity. The predominantly white, religious, middle class population is becoming more diverse and varied. With this growth, the needs of the community are changing and WWCTC was created to help the youth and adults navigate some of these changes and the behaviors that come with them. Much like the parents in “Footloose,” many of the adults think they’ve got a hold on any substance use problems in the area. They don’t know that more of our kids are experimenting with nicotine and marijuana (via vaping) than other kids across the state. They don’t realize that 68% of 8th graders who drink alcohol, did so at home with their parents' permission. They have never considered that 100% of our 10th graders who have tried tobacco did so with a vaping product. Many don’t see that 1 out of 3 students don’t regard marijuana use as a risky behavior. In 2015, a group of concerned community members came together to create WWCTC, a coalition to advocate for healthy habits, reduce and prevent youth substance use, educate the community on local risk and protective factors, and provide activities and events to help the cause. This DFC Grant proposal would allow WWCTC to continue this work, especially targeting alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco misuse. In our boundaries, an important part of this work is education. The people in the community need education about what is really happening and what they can do about it. The youth need education about the dangers of substance use and how they can prevent use in their own lives. Classes, workshops, signage, and social media are all tools to help WWCTC spread this education. The Youth Group will increase opportunities for and recognition of prosocial involvement - both are protective factors proven to reduce youth risky behaviors. Key leaders will help shift policy in protective ways. It is a long process to see the results of change. In “Footloose,” the adults didn’t change their minds immediately but they did begin thinking about the real situation. The youth educated them. Those youth used a school dance in their town boundaries as a measurement for success. WWCTC is looking for success from our efforts on the SHARP survey and other local data. The current long-term goal is to see a 3% reduction in overall substance use by 2029.
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).