PACT Awarded $625,000 Grant to Continue Its Mission

(Washington, D.C.) – Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), announced $19.8 million in new Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grants to 147 communities and 19 new DFC Mentoring grants across the country. The awards announced Friday, Sept. 6th are in addition to the $59.4 million in continuation grants simultaneously released to 473 currently funded DFC coalitions and 4 DFC Mentoring continuation coalitions. Pelham PACT Coalition was one of the new grant recipients and will receive continued DFC grant funding for years 6-10 to involve and engage their local community to prevent substance use among youth.  

The DFC Program provides grants of up to $625,000 over 5 years to community coalitions that facilitate citizen participation in local drug prevention efforts. Coalitions are composed of community leaders, parents, youth, teachers, religious and fraternal organizations, healthcare and business professionals, law enforcement, the media, and others working together at the local level. 

“Research shows that prevention is the most effective tool we have to reduce the terrible consequences associated with alcohol and drug use among young people. This new funding will allow Pelham PACT Coalition to continue to invest in programs and partnerships that support youth and enable them to live healthier and safer lives,” said Virginia Hartmere, Coalition Director.

 PACT will specifically work to address prevention of alcohol and marijuana use, the two most commonly used substances by Pelham’s youth.  With nearly 2 of every 5 tenth grader reporting using alcohol and more than 1 of every 10 tenth grader reporting using marijuana, a continued comprehensive drug and alcohol prevention  program remains PACT’s priority. Initiatives targeting youth development, parental engagement and community awareness and involvement are included in this year’s action plan.  To find out more about PACT, visit pelhampact.org and like us on Facebook.  Contact Virginia Hartmere, Coalition Director, at pelhampact@gmail.com to get involved with PACT and work with fellow community members to encourage youth to make healthy, safe and substance free choices.

The DFC Program was created by the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 and reauthorized by Congress in 2001 and 2006.  Since 1998, ONDCP has awarded nearly 2,000 DFC grants to local communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Palau, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

For more information about the Office of National Drug Control Policy or the Drug Free Communities Support Program, visit: www.WhiteHouse.gov/ONDCP