Project Grant NH28CE003473

FERGUS COUNTY: DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES (DFC) SUPPORT PROGRAM- NEW - FERGUS COUNTY MONTANA IS HOME TO WIDE OPEN SPACES FEATURING THE ICONIC MONTANA "BIG SKY". MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE VISTAS, THE COUNTY IS HOME TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CARE AN AWFUL LOT ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND KIDS GROWING UP IN IT. THIS RURAL NATURE PAIRED WITH THE TRADITIONAL WORK FORCE OF FARMING AND AG HELP TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY BACKBONE OF TOUGH, HONEST, HARDWORKING PEOPLE THAT STILL VALUE THE COMMITMENT OF A HANDSHAKE AND HOLD TRADITIONAL FAMILY VALUES CLOSE TO HEART. WITH THESE GREAT ATTRIBUTES COME THE DOWN SIDE OF ISOLATION, RESOURCE GAPS, AND VIEWS OF ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE AS A RITE OF PASSAGE. THE CENTRAL MONTANA YOUTH CHALLENGE (CMYC) COALITION WAS STARTED IN JANUARY 2004. OVER THE PAST 18 YEARS OF OPERATIONS THE COALITION HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES, RESOURCES, AND SOLUTIONS TO HELP MAKE FERGUS COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO LIVE AND RAISE THEIR KIDS. THE MISSION OF THE CMYC IS TO HELP YOUTH MAKE POSITIVE LIFE CHOICES AND AVOID SUBSTANCE USE WITH SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES. THE COALITION PRIDES ITSELF ON TAKING A HOLISTIC, COLLABORATIVE APPROACH ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY IN THE EDUCATION OF SUBSTANCE USE AND THE CONSEQUENCES AND COSTS IT CAN INFLICT ON OUR SMALL RURAL COMMUNITY. THE COALITION BELIEVES THAT BY AMPLIFYING PROTECTIVE FACTORS, WE CAN ACTIVELY MITIGATE THE IMPACTS ALCOHOL AND DRUGS HAVE ON OUR RURAL AND DISPARATE POPULATIONS. THE CMYC, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FERGUS COUNTY GOVERNMENT, IS SEEKING SUPPORT FROM THE DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES (DFC) GRANT TO HELP THE COALITION STRENGTHEN THEIR CAPACITY THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT CARE (CTC) FRAMEWORK, DEVELOP MORE CULTURAL REPRESENTATION, AND ULTIMATELY IMPLEMENT LAYERED EVIDENCE-BASED, DATA-DRIVEN, PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES TO ELIMINATE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT METH AND UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE IS HAVING ON OUR COMMUNITY. ALTHOUGH THE COALITION HAS HELD STEADY MEMBERSHIP AND COLLABORATION, THERE IS A NEED FOR NEW GROWTH AND INPUT FROM NEW STAKE HOLDERS. THROUGH THE CTC FRAMEWORK, IT IS HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE. SECONDLY, FERGUS COUNTY HAS NEVER BEEN ISSUED FUNDING TO FOCUS ON METHAMPHETAMINE PREVENTION. THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE CHALLENGE TO CREATE A CHANGE WITHOUT ANY MONETARY RESOURCES. FERGUS COUNTY YOUTH ARE BEING IMPACTED BY ALCOHOL AND METH ON A NEARLY DAILY BASIS. WITH AN ASTONISHING 97.5% OF ALL FELONY CASES BEING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TIED TO SUBSTANCE LIKE ALCOHOL AND METH CREATING A DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT AND ONE THAT INSTILLS A NEGATIVE MESSAGE. AS NOTED BY FERGUS COUNTY SHERIFF AND CORONER, RICHARD VAUGHN, IN HIS LETTER OF SUPPORT "FROM MY NEARLY 29 YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE I CAN TESTIFY THAT NEARLY ALL PERSONS BOOKED INTO THE FACILITY WERE RELATED TO SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE. THE NARCOTICS ARRESTS ARE NEARLY ALL FELONY CHARGES FOR METHAMPHETAMINE POSSESSION OR DISTRIBUTION WITH HEROIN CHARGES BECOMING MORE REGULAR. THEFT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ASSAULT, AND MOST OTHER ARRESTS ARE A RESULT OF SUBSTANCE USE OR ABUSE. ALCOHOL HAS ALWAYS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN ARRESTS. METHAMPHETAMINE HAS AND IS OUTPACING ALCOHOL FOR ARRESTS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. I AM CONFIDENT IN STATING THAT THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN OUR COUNTRY, STATE AND COUNTY IS AN EPIDEMIC. WE OWE IT TO OUR YOUTH TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF THIS TREND WITH PROGRAMS THAT WILL EDUCATE AND EMPOWER THEM TO BREAK THE CYCLE." THE CYMC IS CONFIDENT IN OUR WORK PLAN. WE ARE EVEN MORE CONFIDENT IN OUR TEAM AND COMMUNITY TO MAXIMIZE THE INVESTMENT AND DRIVE MEASURABLE CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE-OUR CHILDREN. WITH THE SUPPORT OF DFC FUNDING, FERGUS COUNTY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT PLACE FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN TO LEARN, PLAY, AND GROW WITHOUT THE UNNEEDED DANGERS AND LIFE-ALTERING IMPACTS OF METH AND ALCOHOL.