Substance Abuse Prevention Council Wins $100,000 Grant 

Evanston Review 10/11/03

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The Evanston Substance Abuse Prevention Council is one of 203 community coalitions across the country to receive a Drug-Free Communities Support Program grant to aid in efforts to limit drug use and promote drug-free communities.

The program is administered by the Office of Justice Programs' Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and overseen by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

PEER Services Inc. is the fiscal agent for the Prevention Council. The $100,000 award will help the council to achieve the two goals of strengthening itself and reducing substance abuse among youth by implementing the following strategies:

·  Institute the model program Project ALERT in all Evanston middle schools (sixth and seventh grades);

·  Initiate the model program Families That Care: Guiding Good Choices in collaboration with two Evanston churches, First United Methodist and the First Church of God Christian Life Center;

·  Continue and expand the Strength in Numbers campaign that uses local survey data to promote the message that most Evanston Township High School students choose not to use alcohol and tobacco;

·  Increase the Evanston Police Department's capacity to implement alcohol compliance checks; and

·  Provide training and education to alcohol sellers and servers to serve responsibly and stay within the law.

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-9th, took an active role in supporting the council's grant application to bring these resources to the Evanston community.

"This much-needed grant is a critical component of (the council's) successful campaign to provide the youth of our community with a clear alternative to alcohol and drug abuse, and to promote a healthy lifestyle," Schakowsky said.