DFC national community antidrug coalition institute

Per the authorizing legislation, for the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program, as directed by section 4 of Public Law 107-82, as amended by section 8204 of Public Law 115-271.

The organization receiving the grant under subsection (a) shall establish a National Community Antidrug Coalition Institute to: (1) provide education, training, and technical assistance for coalition leaders and community teams, with emphasis on the development of coalitions serving economically disadvantaged areas; (2) develop and disseminate evaluation tools, mechanisms, and measures to better assess and document coalition performance measures and outcomes; and (3) bridge the gap between research and practice by translating knowledge from research into practical information.

Per the statute, an organization eligible for the grant under subsection (a) is any national nonprofit organization that represents, provides technical assistance and training to, and has special expertise and broad, national-level experience in community antidrug coalitions under section 1032 of the National Narcotics Leadership Act of 1988 (21 U.S.C. 1532).

The purpose of the NCI is to serve as the training and technical assistance partner for DFC and non-DFC funded community coalitions across the country by enhancing the capacity of the prevention workforce and others in the prevention community to implement evidence-based interventions. The successful non-federal entity (NFE) is strongly encouraged to be innovative in their approach for meeting the goals of the NCI grant and shall be expected to: provide education, training, and technical assistance for coalition leaders and community teams, with emphasis on the development of effective and sustainable coalitions implementing evidence-based prevention interventions; increase the percentage of coalitions that adopt and implement the core competencies of the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and will include dissemination of evaluation tools, mechanisms, and measures to better assess and document coalition performance; provide training and technical assistance for coalition leaders and community teams, with an emphasis on the development of coalitions serving communities disproportionately affected by substance use; and bridge the gap between research and practice by translating knowledge from academia into practical information to be used by community coalitions and infusing it into training materials, training curriculums, and all NCI supported events. A minimum of 80 percent of funds must go towards the direct delivery of training and technical assistance services to community anti-drug coalitions at the local, regional, and national levels at no-cost to the coalitions. Partnership: Applicants are strongly encouraged to partner with other NFEs to help implement, amplify, and advise on the NCI project.

Specific Restrictions Determined at NOFO Level

The grant will be available for four years, with extensions possible.

Initial Review: Applications will be reviewed to make sure basic requirements are met. An application won't be considered if it is from an organization that doesn't meet all eligibility criteria; does not fully comply with the required application content; or is submitted after the deadline. Merit Review: Applications that fail to demonstrate the organization' s expertise and experience in providing training and technical assistance and training to community coalitions will not be considered. Applicants will be expected to amplify communities being served by coalitions and community partners. Applicants will also have special expertise and broad, national-level experience in community anti-drug coalitions under section 1032 of the National Narcotics Leadership Act of 1988 (21 U.S.C. 1532).

Upon approval by ONDCP, a grant and conditions are sent to the grantee.