Monroe County Health Council Receives Grant

Washington, DC -- Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-Tenn.) announced today that the Monroe County Health Council will receive an award from the Drug Free Communities (DFC) Program grant.  This is one of only 199 new grant recipients across the Country.

John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and President Bush’s “Drug Czar,” said, “Today, 860,000 fewer youths are using drugs than in 2001.  Together, as a Nation, we have made significant progress in our efforts against substance abuse.  Coalitions like the Monroe County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force are important partners in pushing back against the harms of drug use.”

The Monroe County Health Council will receive a grant in the amount of $112,623 to support the efforts of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force.  The group’s goal is to reduce substance abuse among the County’s youth by educating the community, especially parents, and to develop alternative activities for teens.

“Efforts to keep youth drug-free, healthy and safe are so important, especially in our Nation’s rural communities,” said Congressman Duncan.  “I appreciate that the Monroe County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force is being recognized for their hard work and dedication.  This new funding will allow them to expand their outreach to prevent and reduce alcohol and drug abuse among the young people in the County.”

The DFC program provides grants of up to $625,000 over five years to community organizations that serve as catalysts for citizen participation in local drug prevention efforts. The 199 new grantees were selected from 419 applicants through a competitive review process.   To qualify for matching grants, all awardees must have at least a six-month history of working together on substance abuse prevention initiatives, develop a long-term plan to reduce substance abuse, and participate in a national evaluation of the Drug-Free Communities Program.