Youth Running Strong Drug Free Communities Program - CareAz, in partnership with the Youth Running Strong Coalition, seeks funding through the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program to implement a comprehensive, community-driven approach to prevent youth substance use in the Navajo Nation portion of Apache County, Arizona. The coalition serves approximately 5,200 residents across the tribal communities of Nahata’ Dziil, Houck, Wide Ruins, Sanders, and Lupton, with a primary focus on Navajo youth ages 8–18 and their families. These rural and tribal communities experience elevated risk factors for youth substance use, including alcohol misuse, opioid exposure, tobacco and vaping use, economic hardship, limited access to prevention resources, and the ongoing effects of historical trauma. At the same time, the community demonstrates strong protective factors, including deep cultural identity, respect for elders, and a commitment to collective responsibility for youth well-being. Building on these strengths, the coalition will implement culturally responsive, evidence-based prevention strategies that align with the DFC framework and the Seven Strategies for Community Change. Project goals are to (1) strengthen and sustain collaboration among the required community sectors to support youth substance use prevention, and (2) reduce past 30-day use of alcohol, opioids, and vaping products among youth by at least 10 percent by 2030. Key strategies include coalition capacity building, youth leadership development, family engagement, and the implementation of evidence-based prevention programs such as Too Good for Drugs, Keep a Clear Mind, and Catch My Breath. Additional strategies include peer-led prevention education, culturally grounded public awareness campaigns, and environmental approaches designed to reduce youth access to substances and shift community norms toward prevention. The coalition will collaborate with regional and tribal partners, including Arizona HIDTA, Arizona Overdose Data to Action (OD2A), the CDC’s Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country initiative, and the Office of Tribal Affairs and Strategic Alliances, to inform prevention planning, strengthen data-informed decision-making, and enhance community-level prevention efforts. Evaluation activities will include analysis of biannual Arizona Youth Survey data, program-specific pre- and post-assessments, and qualitative feedback from youth, families, and coalition members. Findings will be used to guide continuous improvement, ensure cultural relevance, and support data-driven prevention strategies. Through these efforts, the Youth Running Strong Coalition aims to strengthen protective factors, reduce environmental risk factors associated with youth substance use, and promote long-term health and resilience among Navajo youth and families.
