Friday, June 6, 2025
6/6/2025
Fayette County Prevention Coalition - The Community Action Commission of Fayette County (CAC), on behalf of the Faith in Recovery Fayette County Prevention Coalition (PC), submits this application for the Drug Free Communities Grant Program. Nestled in southwestern Ohio, roughly one hour from Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton and accessible by several major highways, including Interstate 71; U.S. Route 22, 35 & 62; & Ohio Routes 41,38,207,729, 734, and 753, the 28,903 residents in Fayette fell into the opioid epidemic seemingly overnight beginning 2014, quickly climbing to the top of the charts for opioid overdose in 2017, reaching #2 in Ohio, 7th nationwide. From 2017-2021, Drug Free Communities funding supported the coalition reducing youth marijuana, nicotine and prescription drug past 30-day use rates by .92%, 3.3% & 4.89% respectively. During the 2022 OHYES! (Youth Risk Behavior Survey) youth past 30-day use rates of 7-12th graders were: nicotine (2.2%) and marijuana (5.5%), alcohol (10.36%), and prescription drugs (1.1%). In the section below we outline our strategies and goals. Goal 1: Increase community collaboration around preventing youth substance use, as evidenced by, in year 5, or by 9/29/29, Fayette County demonstrating being at level 9, a “high level of community ownership” after demonstrating a readiness of “initiation: in 2023, compared to “pre-planning” in the year originally funded by DFC. We will also maintain at least 24 coalition members at all times. We will accomplish this through coalition meetings, an annual color run, constant community promotions through a variety of media sources like social media, the paper and television, youth coalition, CADCA Training, taking our youth to the statewide rally, & an annual volunteer recognition and data sharing ceremony. Goal 2: We will also reduce youth alcohol past 30-day use by 4% by September 29, 2029, through the following: connecting youth with mental health conditions to treatment, developing a positive social norms campaign, continuing identification checks and also doing a Project Sticker Shock to reduce social access, and getting families to follow social host laws. Goal 3: We will reduce youth marijuana use by 3% by September 29, 2029, through the following: having evidence-based prevention for all Fayette County youth, the safe storage & disposal of marijuana, connecting youth to Project Teen Intervene instead of being expelled from school and by having Resource Officers on each campus. We will also provide Triple P parenting in the evenings to target low-income parents and Strengthening Families at Rose Avenue Community Center for grandparents parenting because of incarceration and/or addiction. We will also use the Cannabis Toolkit as a community education piece. Goal 4: We will reduce youth nicotine use by 1% by 9/29/29, through early intervention programming at the districts instead of expulsion and evidence-based prevention. Goal 5: Last, we will reduce youth prescription drug use by .5% by 9/29/29 through prescriber education and drug take back.
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).