FY 2011 DFC New and Continuation Grants

ONDCP has announced $12.3 million in new Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC) grants to 87 communities and 20 new DFC Mentoring grants across the country. The awards announced today are in addition to the nearly $76 million in Continuation grants simultaneously released to 607 currently funded DFC coalitions and twelve DFC Mentoring Continuation coalitions. These grants provide community coalitions needed support to prevent and reduce youth substance use.

Overview of FY 2011 Grantees

The 2011 competition showed a dramatic increase in coalitions serving urban areas (74% of new competing awards) and the program reflects a near balance in urban/rural grants with 43% of total grants serving urban populations and 47% serving rural. For 2011, 56 grants report serving Native American/American Indian populations, representing eight percent of the total DFC awards.

The Drug Free Communities program is directed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The DFC program provides grants of up to $625,000 over five years to community coalitions that facilitate youth and adult participation at the community level in local youth drug prevention efforts, including prescription drug diversion and prevention initiatives, as well as underage drinking prevention programs. Coalitions are comprised of community leaders, parents, youth, teachers, religious and fraternal organizations, health care and business professionals, law enforcement, and the media. Data show that communities receiving DFC funding have seen significant reductions in past 30-day use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana among middle and high school students.

The 87 new grantees were selected from 452 applicants through a competitive, peer-reviewed process. To qualify for these matching grants, all awardees must have at least a six-month history of working together on youth substance use reduction initiatives, have representation from 12 required sectors of the community, develop a long-term plan to reduce youth substance use, and participate in the National Evaluation of the DFC program.

The DFC program was created by the Drug Free Communities Act of 1997, and was reauthorized by Congress in 2001 and 2006. Since 1998, ONDCP has awarded nearly 2,000 Drug Free Communities 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.

Press Releases

Additional Resources

All year 1 and year 6 DFC grantees must send two representatives to the New Grantee Meeting, which will be held December 5 - 7, 2011 in Washington, DC. Additional information will be posted on this website and in the grantee notice of award.

All year 1 grantees must register for the National Coalition Academy as soon as possible. Please contact: The National Coalition Institute at 1-800-54-CADCA ext. 225 or via email: nroy@cadca.org.