WASHINGTON—Senator Chuck Grassley today announced that the Office of National Drug Control Policy has awarded a $125,000 new Drug Free Communities Support Program grant to Boone County Project SAFE.
Boone County Project SAFE is one of 161 new grantees selected through a competitive, peer-reviewed process. To qualify for matching grants, all awardees must have at least a six-month history of working together on substance abuse reduction initiatives, have representation from 12 specific sectors of the community, develop a long-term plan to reduce substance abuse, and participate in a national evaluation of the Drug Free Communities Support Program.
Grassley first sponsored the Drug Free Communities Act in 1997. The program provides grants to community coalitions that mobilize their communities to prevent alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug, and inhalant abuse by young people; and acts as a catalyst for increased citizen participation in efforts to reduce substance use among youth.
"The Drug Free Communities program was created to help the people at the grass-roots who know a community's needs best. These programs attack the substance abuse problems of a community before they start," Grassley said.
Drug Free Communities programs in 23 other Iowa communities will continue to receive support through the Drug Free Communities Act. Others receiving continuing grants funds are Kossuth Connections: Making the Connection in Algona, Story County Prevention Policy Board in Ames, Carter Lake Prevention Coalition in Carter Lake, the Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition in Cedar Rapids, St. Luke's Health Care Foundation in Cedar Rapids, FOCUS in Charles City, the Clinton Substance Abuse Council in Clinton, Helping Services for Northeast Iowa in Decorah, the Dubuque County Safe Youth Coalition in Dubuque, Garner Asset Project Coalition in Garner, Hamilton County Power UP YOUth Coalition in Graettinger, Mid-Eastern Council on Chemical Abuse in Iowa City, Van Buren County Safe Coalition in Keosauqua, SATUCI Youth Partners in Marshalltown, Henry Healthy County Communities in Mt. Pleasant, JPT Decatergorization Project in Newton, Worth County Asset Team Coalition in Northwood, Building a Better Community in Ottumwa, Siouxland CARES About Substance Abuse in Sioux City, Positively Spencer Youth in Spencer, Washington County, Pathways Behavioral Services, Inc. in Waterloo and Grade A Plus in West Burlington.
In the late 1990s, Grassley launched an extensive first-of-its kind statewide initiative to address Iowa's drug problem at the grassroots. Called "Face It Together," or FIT, the effort helped Iowans work together to keep their schools, workplaces and communities drug-free.
Grassley currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control.