Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Monday, September 29, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will send a Southwest Missouri anti-drug program almost $100,000 in federal funds to help fight drug use. This announcement is part of $500,000 in anti-drug and law enforcement initiatives Bond announced for the state today.

"These anti-drug programs are key in the fight to keep neighborhoods in rural Southwest Missouri safe from drug dealers and other violent criminals," said Bond. "These funds will help make our streets safer for Missouri families."

The DOJ's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's Drug-Free Communities Support Program will send the Lamar Community Betterment Council $99,254 in federal funding. These dollars will be used to reduce substance abuse among youth and strengthening community anti-drug coalitions. The Council serves the city of Lamar in Barton County, a rural area with high teen pregnancy and drop out rates. This group will implement the following strategies to reduce substance abuse among area youth:

* Increase the number of youth who have completed alcohol and drug prevention programs;

* Increase the number of youth that remain in school and improve academic performance through group mentoring programs and Life Skills Training Programs;

* Reduce the number of youth committing crimes through school-based programs;

* Increase the number of parents participating in family education programs and;

* Increase community collaboration through Web-based awareness programs and extensive media involvement.

“Our overall goal in intervening with youth is to lead them to a healthier future,” said Lori Cable, AOK board member and author of the grant requests. “Show-Me-Drug-Free and Show-Me Wellness will provide youth with information to make healthy life choices, including rejecting drug abuse and avoiding a sedentary life style that may result in health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.”

Today's announcement for Lamar Community Betterment Council is in addition to more than $300,000 in federal funds the Council received last week.

Kit Bond is Missouri’s senior Senator and is now in his third term after having served the state previously during two terms as Governor.