Nwaedd drug free communities grant 2026 - VFP project abstract: the boone county voices for prevention (VFP) coalition was formed to address the identified needs and at-risk factors of youth substance…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded $125,000 to Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District Inc. (NWAEDD) on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program Grants (CFDA 93.276) to support the Boone County Voices for Prevention coalition's efforts to prevent and reduce substance use among youth.

The Voices for Prevention coalition will address alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, and opioid/prescription drug misuse among youth ages 9–18 in Boone County, Arkansas through educational and environmental strategies. The coalition will focus particularly on chemical vaping of nicotine and marijuana in schools. Work will leverage evidence-based training, community partnerships, and environmental interventions to address risk factors and strengthen protective factors that minimize substance use risk. The coalition's five-year strategy centers on strengthening relationships among stakeholders, broadening coalition capabilities, and introducing innovative educational approaches.

Performance runs through June 30, 2031, with place of performance in Boone County and across Arkansas. NWAEDD, a nonprofit economic development organization, serves as the fiscal and administrative recipient. The Drug-Free Communities Support Program requires participating coalitions to demonstrate at least six months of prior collaborative work on substance abuse reduction, meet composition requirements with substantial community volunteer involvement, provide cash or in-kind match at 100–150 percent of the federal award, and participate in program evaluation.

Nwaedd drug free communities grant 2026 - VFP project abstract: the boone county voices for prevention (VFP) coalition was formed to address the identified needs and at-risk factors of youth substance use in our local area. The proposed geographic area for the drug free communities grant is the entirety of boone county, arkansas, located in the north central part of the state immediately south of the missouri state line. Within the southern part of the ozark mountains, the county comprises 589.72 square miles and has a population of 38,636 residents. The mission of VFP is to strengthen and increase the capacity of community coalitions and stakeholders working collaboratively to prevent and reduce substance use over time among youth age 18 years and younger by addressing factors which increase risk of substance use, by supporting factors that minimize risk of substance use, and by promoting utilization of evidence-based training and environmental strategies which will result in community level change. Our overarching goal is to create drug free communities in boone county through educational and environmental strategies. The substances we have chosen to address were based on a comprehensive review of local data, root causes and local conditions. When funded, we will address the following substances currently used by county youth based on student survey responses from the arkansas needs prevention assessment (apna) survey which include prescription meds/opioids, alcohol, nicotine and marijuana. Chemical vaping of nicotine and marijuana is prevalent in our schools and will be a primary focus of our work. Aligning to our logic model, the VFP will reduce youth (ages 9-18) use of alcohol, nicotine, marijuana and the misuse of opioids/prescription drugs by addressing root causes and local conditions. Our strategy for the upcoming five years focuses on leveraging our ability to foster relationships, broaden coalition capabilities, and introduce innovative educational and community level change approaches regarding the dangers associated with alcohol and drug use. Central to this approach is the emphasis on bolstering coping mechanisms and other protective factors, modifying policies, while also providing connections to resources. In addition, we are committed to including all segments of the region and will be responsive to culture and language barriers so as to effectively engage with and support all residents of our county. We aim to offer evidence-based positive coping strategies within safe and relevant environments for youth. This approach also addresses existing cultural norms within this population. Our coalition is committed to collaboration, bringing together stakeholders from multiple sectors, including youth and parents, to actively engage input and ownership to guide the process. The coalition employs evidence-based strategies, utilizing the strategic prevention framework, the seven strategies for community change, and other promising approaches for our prevention work.