East providence prevention coalition

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded the City of East Providence $125,000 on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program (CFDA 93.276) to support the East Providence Prevention Coalition's efforts to reduce youth substance use and strengthen community capacity.

The East Providence Prevention Coalition will reduce youth alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use through individual and environmental-level strategies addressing risk factors and strengthening protective factors, including shifting peer and community norms by engaging youth as leaders in campaigns and peer mentoring. The coalition, which has operated for over 30 years, is composed of youth, parents, schools, law enforcement, healthcare, and other stakeholders. Its youth arm, the East Providence Youth Council, contributes significant volunteer engagement—over 3,800 hours since 2022—and shapes prevention strategies, messaging, policy advocacy, and peer outreach. The coalition received national recognition as an Office of National Drug Control Policy Blue Ribbon Coalition and CADCA's Coalition of the Year in 2023.

The award covers performance from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, with place of performance in Rhode Island. The DFC Support Program's statutory purpose is to establish and strengthen collaboration among community coalitions, public and private nonprofits, and federal, state, local, and tribal governments to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth. Recipients must demonstrate prior coalition work of at least six months, maintain substantial community volunteer effort, provide a 100–150 percent cash or in-kind match, and participate in program evaluation.

Abstract

Summary east providence prevention coalition (eppc) - drug-free communities (DFC) support program the east providence prevention coalition (eppc) seeks continued funding through the drug-free communities (DFC) support program to reduce youth substance use and strengthen long-term community capacity in east providence, rhode island. As the state's fifth-largest municipality, east providence is home to 47,961 residents, including over 7,500 youth under 18. Known for its deep-rooted "townie pride," east providence blends urban and suburban traits, with distinct neighborhoods, strong school spirit, and a growing commitment to coordinated community wellness efforts. Eppc is the city's only dedicated substance use prevention coalition and has served the community for over 30 years, advancing its mission of promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing youth substance use. Comprised of youth, parents, schools, law enforcement, healthcare, and other stakeholders, the coalition is known for its collaboration, consistency, and measurable impact, receiving national recognition as an ondcp blue ribbon coalition and cadca's coalition of the year in 2023. Eppc's youth arm, the east providence youth council (epyc), plays a central leadership role in shaping strategies, messaging, policy advocacy, and peer outreach. Since 2022, epyc has contributed more than 3,800 volunteer hours, demonstrating youth engagement as a core strength of eppc's community health and prevention efforts. This project will reduce youth alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use through a comprehensive mix of individual and environmental level strategies that address risk factors and strengthen protective factors. Through the DFC support program, the eppc will expand its efforts across integrated focus areas grounded in evidence-based practices and community-level change via: 1) shifting peer and community norms by engaging youth as leaders in campaigns, peer mentorship, and messaging that promotes positive, substance-free behaviors. 2) reducing youth access to substances through evidence-based environmental strategies, including education, retailer engagement, and responsible practices initiatives. 3) strengthening policy and enforcement in partnership with schools, law enforcement, and city leadership to support consistent implementation. 4) implementing evidence-based and evidence-informed programs that address the unique experiences, perceptions, and risk factors of local youth. 5) enhancing multi-sector collaboration to build community readiness, increase capacity, and support long-term systems change. Through this initiative, eppc will engage the whole community, from students to city leadership, in building a sustainable, coordinated, and youth-centered approach to improving community health. Expected outcomes include reductions in youth alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use; increased perception of harm and peer disapproval; strengthened protective factors; increased youth engagement; and sustained youth leadership in community health efforts.