Westwood cares drug-free communities support program serves the community of westwood, MA. Its main goals are to increase protective factors and reduce risk factors associated with substance MIS/use

The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded $125,000 to the Town of Westwood Fire Department on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program Grants (CFDA 93.276).

The Westwood Cares Drug-Free Communities Support Program reduces and prevents youth substance use in Westwood, Massachusetts, through coalition-building and community intervention. Short-term outcomes include increasing adult and youth coalition membership by 10 percent, collecting baseline data on drug-free community outcomes, and identifying root causes for youth access to alcohol and marijuana. The program implements a digital youth alcohol prevention campaign targeting 75 percent of Westwood parents and guardians of middle and high school students, develops peer-led social marketing to increase peer disapproval of marijuana use and perception of risk among grades 9–12, and expands substance-free after-school activities for grades 6–12 by 10 percent. Long-term outcomes by year five include developing or strengthening two policies addressing alcohol and marijuana access, increasing coalition activities by 50 percent, and communicating data outcomes to at least 75 percent of the community biannually.

The period of performance runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, with performance occurring in Massachusetts. The DFC Support Program establishes and strengthens community coalitions that prevent youth substance use by addressing risk factors and promoting protective factors. The program operates through cooperative agreements of one to five years, with continuation subject to satisfactory progress documentation and federal determination that continued funding serves government interests.

Abstract

Summary the purpose of the westwood cares coalition drug free communities project is to reduce and prevent youth substance use. Short term expected outcomes include: increasing the westwood cares adult and youth membership by 10% and collecting data to develop a baseline to measure drug free communities outcomes and identifying root causes for access to alcohol and marijuana products. To promote protective factors against youth alcohol use: increase the number of westwood youth grades 6-12 involved in substance-free after school activities by 10%. To promote protective factors against youth marijuana use: increase the number of westwood youth grades 6-12 who report positive relationships with adults in the community/at school to reduce and prevent alcohol and marijuana use: implement a digital youth alcohol prevention campaign to reach 75% of westwood parents/guardians of middle and high school youth. Decrease the youth perception that alcohol is allowed at youth public sporting events as measured by 90% of youth reporting they do not believe drinking is taking place at youth sporting events. Develop (1) peer led social marketing campaign (to increase peer disapproval of marijuana use and to increase perception of risk by 10% by year directed at all westwood public schools youth (in grades 9-12 ) the long term expected outcomes by year 5 are: develop and/or strengthen two policies that address alcohol and marijuana access including consequences of use. A 50% increase in coalition activities and 10% increase in involvement above year 3 outcomes* communicate data outcomes to at least 75% of the community on a BI-annual basis improving knowledge of coalition efforts to address youth substance use in the community by year 5. Decrease the number of youth in grades 9-12 who currently use alcohol from 23% down to 20%.* decrease the number of youth in 12 grade who currently use alcohol from 38% down to 30%.* decrease binge drinking in 12TH grade from 30% down to 25%.* 100% compliance of "no sales to minors" for alcohol retail outlets by year (5) of DFC funding. Decrease the number of youth in grades 9-12 who currently use marijuana from 7.5% down to 4% by year 5 of DFC funding.* decrease the number of youth in 12TH grade who currently use marijuana from 18% to 15%.* decrease the number of youth in grades 9-12 who do not feel they have at least one teacher/adult at school they can talk to if they have a problem from 25% down to 20% by year 5 of DFC funding. Implement policy to require evidence based health curricula addressing marijuana and alcohol prevention in middle schools