CE26-0208 - drug-free communities support program: (year 6-FY25 cohort)

The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded $125,000 to County of Beaver on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program (CFDA 93.276) to support the Beaver County Prevention Coalition's substance use prevention work.

The Beaver County Prevention Coalition, founded in 2009 and operating across all 12 community sectors in Beaver City, Utah, will implement evidence-based parent education and skill-building programs including Parents Empowered and family-focused outreach; youth-led prevention initiatives; community education campaigns; and family bonding events. The coalition will address two priority substance use issues identified through the Utah Student Health and Risk Prevention Survey: underage alcohol use and youth e-cigarette use. Strategies focus on reducing favorable attitudes toward substance use, strengthening family management and communication practices, and increasing youth involvement in positive, prosocial activities. The coalition will enhance accessibility through Spanish-language materials and virtual participation options and will collaborate with law enforcement, businesses, and policymakers to reduce youth access to alcohol and nicotine products. By September 2027, the coalition aims to reduce 30-day alcohol and e-cigarette use among 9th-12th grade students by at least 2 percent.

The award period runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031. Place of performance is Utah. This is the Year 6 award within the FY25 cohort.

Abstract

The beaver county prevention coalition (bcpc), founded in 2009, is a community-led initiative focused on preventing and reducing youth substance use in beaver city, utah. Guided by local data and grounded in the strategic prevention framework and the communities that care model, bcpc engages representatives from all 12 community sectors, including schools, parents, youth, law enforcement, healthcare, businesses, media, and local government-to collaboratively address conditions that contribute to youth substance use and strengthen protective environments for youth. Through continued support from the drug-free communities (DFC) support program, bcpc will build coalition capacity and address two priority substance use issues identified through the utah student health and risk prevention (sharp) survey: underage alcohol use and youth e-cigarette use. Coalition strategies will focus on reducing favorable attitudes toward substance use, strengthening family management and communication practices, and increasing youth involvement in positive, prosocial activities. Key activities include implementation of evidence-based parent education and skill-building programs, such as parents empowered-aligned messaging and family-focused outreach; youth-led prevention initiatives; community education campaigns; and family bonding events designed to promote healthy norms. Bcpc will enhance accessibility by offering spanish-language materials and virtual participation options and will collaborate with law enforcement, businesses, and policymakers to reduce youth access to alcohol and nicotine products and reinforce community prevention norms. By september 2027, bcpc aims to reduce 30-day alcohol and e-cigarette use among 9TH-12TH grade students by at least 2%. Long-term outcomes include improved parent-child communication, increased youth engagement in prosocial activities, strengthened community readiness, and sustained positive shifts in attitudes and behaviors related to youth substance use. Progress will be monitored using sharp data, coalition performance measures, and ongoing evaluation activities. Bcpc's efforts are designed to ensure that youth in beaver city are supported by families, schools, and communities that promote healthy, substance-free lifestyles.