Oceana leads coalition: leading efforts against alcohol and drugs - oceana leads coalition - drug-free communities support program the oceana leads coalition seeks drug-free communities (DFC)…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded $125,000 to District Health Department (doing business as Cadillac Health Dept.) on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program (CFDA 93.276) to support the Oceana Leads Coalition's substance abuse prevention efforts in Oceana County, Michigan.

The coalition implements a 12-month action plan aligned with its 2024–2030 strategic plan to prevent and reduce youth use of alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine across the county's eight ZIP codes and four school districts (Shelby, Hart, Pentwater, and Walkerville). The target population includes approximately 2,900 youth ages 12–18 in this rural community of 26,000 residents. The action plan reduces youth access to substances through parent education, retailer training, and law enforcement compliance checks; increases awareness of substance risks through school-based education and community outreach; builds protective factors via youth skill-building, positive adult relationships, and mental health support access; and reduces stigma to encourage help-seeking. The coalition engages all 12 required DFC sectors—schools, law enforcement, healthcare, parents, and youth-serving organizations—and implements evidence-based programs including Botvin Lifeskills, Catch My Breath, and Not On Tobacco.

The period of performance runs through June 30, 2031, with place of performance in Michigan.

Oceana leads coalition: leading efforts against alcohol and drugs - oceana leads coalition - drug-free communities support program the oceana leads coalition seeks drug-free communities (DFC) support program funding to prevent and reduce youth substance use in oceana county, michigan, a rural community of approximately 26,000 residents, including an estimated 2,900 youth ages 12-18. The coalition serves the entire county, covering eight ZIP codes and four school districts (shelby, hart, pentwater, and walkerville). Local data shows that alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine (VAPING) are the most commonly used substances among youth. Key contributing factors include easy access, low perception of risk, mental health challenges, and limited access to supportive adults. Although peer and parental disapproval of substance use is generally high, many youth overestimate peer substance use, increasing perceived social norms for use. Oceana leads' mission is to reduce youth use of alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine by addressing these risk factors and strengthening protective factors through a comprehensive, community-driven approach. The coalition engages all 12 required DFC sectors-including schools, law enforcement, healthcare, parents, and youth-serving organizations-to implement coordinated prevention strategies across the county. Our 12-month action plan, aligned with the coalition's 2024-2030 strategic plan, includes: reducing youth access to substances through parent education, retailer training, and law enforcement compliance checks increasing awareness of substance risks through school-based education and community outreach building protective factors through youth skill-building, promotion of positive adult relationships, and expanded access to mental health supports reducing stigma to encourage early help-seeking for mental health and substance use concerns we implement evidence-based programs such as botvin lifeskills, catch my breath, not on tobacco, and youth mental health first aid, while also evaluating locally developed initiatives to ensure effectiveness. Expected outcomes include: reduced youth use of alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine; increased perception of harm and reduced social access to substances; stronger parent-child communication; and sustained community collaboration. Through a data-driven, collaborative approach, oceana leads aims to create lasting, measurable improvements in youth health and safety in oceana county.