FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? OJJDP

Friday, April 20, 2001??????????????????????????????????????? ?? 202/307-0703

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ADVISORY

Funds Available to Help Communities Prevent Youth Drug Abuse

Applications for grants up to $100,000 under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, which supports local efforts to prevent substance abuse by young people, are now available.? The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) oversees the program in partnership with the Justice Department?s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), which administers the grants.? A total of $14.4 million will be available for up to 144 new grantees.? The application deadline is June 25, 2001.??

The Drug-Free Communities Support Program supports coalitions of youth, parents, media, law enforcement, school officials, religious organizations and other community representatives.? The program helps the coalitions prevent and reduce young people?s illegal use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco and encourage citizen participation.? Fiscal Year 2001 will mark the fourth year of funding under this program, which currently supports more than 300 coalitions in urban, rural, suburban and tribal communities.? Current grantees are eligible to receive continuation funding.

To obtain a copy of the FY 2001 Drug-Free Communities Support Program Application Package, see the Current Funding Opportunities section of the OJJDP Website at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org/grants/current.html or contact OJJDP?s Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse, Box 6000, Rockville, Maryland 20857.? The toll-free number is 1-800/638-8736.

Media and Congressional staff should contact the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at 202/307-0703.

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