The HOPE Chautauqua Coalition, an initiative of Prevention Works, has been awarded a $625,000 federal grant for youth substance use prevention.

The grant was awarded from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program. The grant program, managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, represents an opportunity to strengthen ongoing efforts in preventing youth substance use in the community. “Preventing substance use today is critical, so that today’s youth don’t become tomorrow’s overdose victims. We are thrilled to award this grant because we know the outcomes DFC-funded coalitions can achieve when implementing evidence-based prevention strategies at the local level.” said Helen Hernandez, administrator of the DFC Program at ONDCP.

Prevention Works officials said the Drug-Free Communities program is an effort to mobilize communities to prevent and reduce substance use among youth. It provides federal grants to community coalitions to identify and respond to the issues unique to their community and change community conditions tied to youth substance use.

“HOPE Chautauqua Coalition is grateful for the support of and partnership with ONDCP and CDC,” said Lucy Price, Hope Chautauqua DFC coalition coordinator. “We are proud to share this mission and effort to prevent youth substance use and protect the well-being of our communities Furthermore, this grant will allow us to better collaborate with our partners, including Prevention Works, Chautauqua county schools, Tobacco-Free CCA, Chautauqua County Departments of Health and Human Services and Mental Health and Hygiene, Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES, Breathe Life of WNY, United Ways of Chautauqua county, Chautauqua county Law Enforcement, the Resource Center, Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the Chautauqua Center, Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care and Ahira Hall Memorial Library . By focusing our collective expertise and resources on this critical issue, we will ensure a positive impact on our youth and community.”

For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/php/drug-freecommunities/index.html.