Project Grant NH28CE004175

The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded $125,000 to Blaine School District on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program Grants (CFDA 93.276) to support the Birch Bay-Blaine Thrives community prevention coalition.

The Birch Bay-Blaine Thrives coalition, formed in 2018, works to prevent and reduce youth substance use in the Blaine School District area of northwest Washington State. The coalition addresses rising marijuana and e-cigarette use among youth, which exceed state rates by 2 and 10 percentage points respectively. Blaine is a high-intensity drug traffic area designated by the federal government, with two international border crossings and location on a major U.S. drug trafficking corridor, creating heightened risk for youth substance use. The award supports the coalition's multi-sector community response to alcohol and cannabis use and mental health challenges among students in the district, which serves 1,981 students, 46 percent of whom qualify for free and reduced meals.

The award runs through June 30, 2031, with place of performance in Washington. Performance and financial reports are required annually, with a final report due at project completion. The DFC Support Program requires community coalitions to demonstrate at least six months of prior collaboration on substance abuse reduction, meet composition standards, provide 100–150 percent cash or in-kind match, and participate in program evaluation.