RSV 2023 Session: Transforming Communities Together: The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program Model (Day 1)

Presenter(s):

• Helen Hernandez, MPH, AD, DFC & Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act Program Office, ONDCP, Executive Office of the President

Session Description:

• Local problems, require local solutions! The DFC Support Program, created by the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997, is the nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent youth substance use. Directed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the DFC Program provides grants to community coalitions to strengthen the infrastructure among local partners to create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use. In 2022, 20% of Americans lived in a community with a DFC-funded coalition. This included approximately 2.6 million middle school students ages 12 to 14 (20% of all middle school youth) and 3.5 million high school youth ages 15 to 18 (21% of all high school youth). In addition, most DFC-funded coalitions in 2022 identified working in rural (51%) communities. Upon the completion of this workshop, participants recognized ONDCP’s National Drug Control Strategy prevention priorities; understand the DFC Program’s Mode and the funding process; and be able to identify a DFC-funded coalition near them.