CE26-0208 - WC-WI drug free communities support program-competing continuation year 6 - the westcare wisconsin, INC. / harambee 53212…pulling together for a drug free community coalition (WC-WI…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded Westcare Wisconsin, Inc. $125,000 on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program (CFDA 93.276) for Year 6 of the WC-WI Coalition's implementation, a competing continuation grant.

The WC-WI Coalition operates from the Westcare Wisconsin Harambee Community Center in Milwaukee's Harambee neighborhood to reduce youth substance use through prevention strategies addressing alcohol, marijuana, and opioids. The coalition delivers education, community engagement, and positive alternatives to support middle and high school students and families in a drug-free environment while increasing protective factors and reducing youth exposure to substances. The Harambee neighborhood, bounded by 7th Street and Humboldt Boulevard (west-east) and Walnut/Pleasant Street to Capitol Drive (south-north), has a population of 10,511, with approximately 35 percent under age 21. The median household income of $30,587 is substantially lower than the national median of $78,538, and local youth ages 5–17 experience a 30.8 percent child poverty rate and elevated risk factors for substance use including reduced access to protective supports and increased substance availability.

The award period runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031. Place of performance is Wisconsin. The DFC Support Program's statutory goals include establishing and strengthening community collaboration to prevent and reduce youth substance abuse and addressing community risk factors while promoting protective factors to reduce substance abuse among youth and, over time, adults.

CE26-0208 - WC-WI drug free communities support program-competing continuation year 6 - the westcare wisconsin, INC. / harambee 53212…pulling together for a drug free community coalition (WC-WI coalition) is entering year 6 of implementation operating from the westcare wisconsin harambee community center. Harambee, meaning "pulling together," reflects the neighborhood's longstanding tradition of collaboration and community engagement. The harambee neighborhood of milwaukee is located between 7TH street and humboldt boulevard (west-east) and walnut/pleasant street to capitol drive (south to north), with a total population of 10,511 residents, approximately 35% of whom are under the age of 21. As of 2024, the median household income is $30,587, which is substantially lower than the national median income of approximately $78,538. The child poverty rate for youth ages 5-17 in milwaukee is 30.8% and local data indicate elevated risk factors associated with youth substance use, including reduced access to protective supports and increased availability of alcohol and other drugs. According to the wisconsin epidemiological profile, licit and illicit substances are readily accessible within the harambee community, contributing to early initiation and ongoing use among youth. The WC-WI coalition focuses on prevention strategies that reduce youth exposure to alcohol, marijuana and opioids while increasing protective factors through education, community engagement and positive alternatives. The coalition works to support a safe, drug-free community environment for middle and high school students and their families through coordinated prevention programming and referral to appropriate services. This program is designed to reduce youth substance use by advancing two long-term outcomes consistent with the DFC support program: (1) expanding and strengthening collaboration among community members and organizations to address youth substance use; and (2) reducing substance use among youth and over time reduce substance use among adults. These outcomes will be achieved through the seven strategies for community-level change and the implementation of specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (smart) objectives, including: (1) increasing collaboration among community-based organizations, government agencies, and stakeholders as measured by coalition participation and documented activities; (2) increasing awareness of alcohol, marijuana, and opioid-related risks among middle and high school students through prevention focused media campaigns as measured by annual youth surveys; (3) reducing youth access to opioids and opioid-related harms through prevention education and community training activities, as measured by the number of events; and (4) increasing the availability of positive alternatives and participation in drug-free activities and opportunities for youth as measured by event attendance and frequency.