United prevention partnership - the united prevention partnership (UPP) is a community-based prevention coalition serving jefferson county, ohio-a region in the appalachian foothills severely impacted…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded Family Recovery Center $125,000 on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program (CFDA 93.276) to support the United Prevention Partnership, a community-based substance use prevention coalition serving Jefferson County, Ohio.

The UPP works to prevent and reduce youth substance use through coalition-building, education, and advocacy focused on shifting local social norms and reducing youth access to alcohol and marijuana. The coalition operates in Jefferson County, an Appalachian region with economic decline, high poverty, and youth substance use rates exceeding state averages. The coalition was originally formed in 2001 as the Jefferson County Anti-Drug Coalition and restructured in 2016 under guidance from the Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board. Family Recovery Center serves as fiscal agent.

Performance runs through June 30, 2031. The DFC Support Program establishes and strengthens collaboration among community coalitions, public and private nonprofits, and federal, state, local, and tribal governments to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth by addressing community risk factors and promoting protective factors. Community coalitions funded under the program must demonstrate six months of prior collaboration on substance abuse reduction, meet composition requirements, ensure substantial community volunteer effort, maintain nonprofit or government status, develop self-sustainability strategies, and provide 100–150 percent cash or in-kind match.

United prevention partnership - the united prevention partnership (UPP) is a community-based prevention coalition serving jefferson county, ohio-a region in the appalachian foothills severely impacted by economic decline and substance use. Once reliant on the steel industry, jefferson county has faced decades of economic hardship, high poverty rates, limited transportation, and population decline following the collapse of its industrial base. These conditions have contributed to increased vulnerability among youth and families, particularly in relation to substance use and mental health challenges. Formed in 2001 as the jefferson county anti-drug coalition and restructured in 2016 under the guidance of the jefferson county prevention and recovery board, the UPP represents a revitalized, evidence-based approach to youth prevention. With family recovery center serving as fiscal agent, the coalition integrates prevention science with grassroots community engagement to address substance use risk factors, especially those rooted in social norms and access. Local survey data highlight jefferson county's pressing need for prevention strategies. The 2024-2025 ohio healthy youth environments survey (OHYES) reveals permissive parental attitudes toward youth alcohol use, widespread social and retail access to alcohol, and youth marijuana use rates that far exceed state averages. Coupled with drug trafficking routes intersecting the county and lingering cultural acceptance of substance use as a social norm, these factors underscore the urgency of the UPP's mission. Through coalition-building, education, and advocacy, the united prevention partnership aims to shift local norms, reduce youth access to substances, and build resilience across jefferson county's communities. The UPP's work represents a vital effort to confront the complex interplay of socioeconomic hardship and behavioral health, and to empower a new generation with healthier, more hopeful futures.