Polk WOW coalition in polk county texas - polk county working on wellness coalition (polk WOW) will serve polk county, texas

The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded $125,000 to the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council of Deep East Texas on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program Grants (CFDA 93.276).

The award funds the Polk County Working On Wellness Coalition (Polk WOW), a community coalition serving Polk County, Texas, targeting youth substance use prevention with focus on underage drinking and tobacco use. Polk WOW mobilizes community members across six school districts (Livingston, Onalaska, Big Sandy/Dallardsville, Corrigan-Camden, Goodrich, and Leggett) and multiple community sectors to reduce youth access to alcohol and tobacco, build prevention skills among youth, and foster community-wide change aimed at school success and reduced dropout rates. Youth tobacco and alcohol use in the region exceed state averages.

The period of performance runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031. Work is performed in Polk County, Texas. The Drug-Free Communities Support Program establishes and strengthens community coalitions to prevent and reduce substance use among youth through collaboration among public and private nonprofit agencies and federal, state, local, and tribal governments.

Polk county, texas is proudly known as the "big thicket" with rolling hills, dense pine forests and one of the larges lakes in the state of texas, LAK livingston. Polk WOW's mission is to bring about change with youth by forming partnerships with community members to support a future free from substance use and misuse by creating awareness regarding the consequences of substance use and misuse specific to the prevention priorities of underage drinking and tobacco. Located a short fifty miles from the gigantic metroplex of houston, texas, thousands flock to polk county to recreate and live away from the hustle and bustle choosing the rural life. Nestled deep in the "big thicket" is the oldest indian reservation in texas, the alabama-coushatta tribe of texas. Polk county working on wellness coalition will target polk county with a population of 54,258 and within the boundaries of six school districts, livingston (the largest), onalaska, big sandy/dallardsville, corrigan-camden, goodrich and leggett schools. Tobacco and alcohol use among the youth in the region is higher than the state average. Careful assessment of the youth in polk county will occur from this project to direct community mobilization and collaboration to reduce youth access to substances, alcohol & tobacco, the primary targets. Polk WOW will trail coalition members from across all community sectors to equip youth with skills to prevent youth substance use. The polk WOW was established to bring together community members to address the local problem of youth substance use and to build a community environment focused on the prevention of youth substance use. The goal is to foster change in polk county that results in school success, decreased dropout rates, eliminate addictions and future problems. Polk WOW will stand strong for youth and mobilize community partners to help make polk county a drug free community.