Guara BI and coalition #TBT - drug free communities (year 1) - guara BI, INC., a nonprofit organization and subsidiary of westcare foundation, proposes a comprehensive prevention initiative in caguas,…

The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded $125,000 to Guara Bi Inc. on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program (CFDA 93.276) for Year 1 implementation of a comprehensive youth substance use prevention initiative in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Guara Bi, operating as the nonprofit Coalition #TBT, will reduce substance use among youth aged 12–18 by addressing alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco through multi-sector collaboration and research-based strategies. Core activities include conducting a local needs assessment, implementing the Botvin Lifeskills Training curriculum in local schools, organizing community workshops, leading monthly parent education sessions, conducting an annual Sticker Shock campaign to deter underage alcohol sales, disseminating prevention messages through social media and public service announcements, and recruiting and engaging youth through a "Voices of Youth" initiative for planning, outreach, and leadership development. The project will apply the Strategic Prevention Framework and Seven Strategies for Community-Level Change to guide implementation.

The award covers the five-year period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, with place of performance in Puerto Rico. The DFC Support Program aims to establish and strengthen collaborations among community coalitions to prevent and reduce youth substance use by addressing environmental and social risk factors while promoting protective factors.

Guara BI and coalition #TBT - drug free communities (year 1) - guara BI, INC., a nonprofit organization and subsidiary of westcare foundation, proposes a comprehensive prevention initiative in caguas, puerto rico, through the year 1 implementation of the drug-free communities (DFC) support program. This initiative, led by the coalition #TBT, is designed to reduce substance use among youth aged 12-18 by addressing alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco through multi-sector collaboration, research-based strategies, and youth and family engagement. The project's primary purpose is to build a healthier and safer environment for middle and high school students by reducing risk factors and promoting protective factors through education, community involvement, and policy change. The coalition's mission is to empower youth with the knowledge and skills necessary to make positive decisions and to strengthen the community's capacity to support prevention initiatives. The goals are twofold: (1) to establish and strengthen collaboration among community stakeholders to address youth substance use; and (2) to reduce youth substance use and, over time, adult substance use by addressing environmental and social factors that contribute to risky behaviors. Guara BI and coalition #TBT will implement the strategic prevention framework (SPF) and the seven strategies for community-level change to guide the project's work. Core activities include conducting a local needs assessment, implementing the research-based botvin lifeskills training curriculum in local schools, organizing community workshops, leading monthly parent education sessions, conducting the annual sticker shock campaign to deter underage alcohol sales, and disseminating prevention messages through social media and public service announcements. The coalition will also actively recruit and engage youth through the "voices of youth" initiative, ensuring their involvement in planning, outreach, and leadership development. This initiative responds to significant public health concerns in puerto rico, where youth report high rates of substance use, mental health challenges, and ease of access to alcohol and tobacco. Coalition #TBT will address these challenges through targeted outreach in eleven barrios of caguas and strategic partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, local businesses, and government agencies. A dual focus on process and outcome evaluation will ensure continuous quality improvement. The project will collect and analyze local data, monitor fidelity to implementation plans, and assess effectiveness in reducing youth access to and use of substances. By building community capacity, engaging youth voices, and enhancing access to appropriate prevention services, this initiative aims to foster long-term behavioral and environmental change in caguas, puerto rico.