$1.2 Million Available for DFC Mentoring Grants

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), announced the availability of $1.2 million for new Drug-Free Communities Support Mentoring Program (DFC Mentoring) grants. An estimated 15 new Mentoring grants will be awarded (averaging $75,000 per grant, per year) to drug and alcohol prevention community coalitions.

The purpose of the DFC Mentoring Program is to provide grant funds to effective current DFC grantees (mentors) to facilitate the development and/or expansion of new community drug prevention coalitions (mentees) that seek to prevent substance abuse among youth. By building the capacity of local anti-drug organizations to assess the unique challenges facing their communities, and assisting in the organization of a coalition-based response to those challenges, the mentoring process better prepares “mentee” groups to implement effective drug-prevention strategies.

“The Drug-Free Communities Support Program is the largest Federal drug prevention effort in the United States,” said John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy. “By providing new drug and alcohol prevention coalitions with invaluable insight and direction, the DFC Mentoring Program enhances community-based drug prevention efforts, and works to advance consensus building toward a drug-free community. It helps communities in addressing their particular substance abuse risks and challenges, and empowers them to craft their own prevention strategies and responses.”

To be eligible for a DFC Mentoring grant, interested community coalitions must have been in existence for five years; be a current DFC grantee or grantee applicant; have achieved measurable results in youth drug and alcohol prevention; have dedicated staff, volunteers, or members to assist the mentee coalitions; have displayed the willingness of mentee communities; and must demonstrate consensus and community support from local key sectors and stakeholders, including youth, parents, businesses, media, law enforcement, government, and religious and civic organizations, among others.

To review the grant application or its requirements, or to learn more about the Drug Free Communities Support Program, visit, www.ondcp.gov/dfc. The deadline to submit a DFC Mentoring grant application is Friday, April 18, 2008.