The overview of the DFC program, as outlined by the CDC: 

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The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program was created in 1997 by the Drug-Free Communities Act. Administered by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and managed through a partnership between ONDCP and CDC, the DFC program provides grants to community coalitions to reduce local youth substance use.

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The DFC program is aimed at mobilizing community leaders to identify and respond to the drug problems unique to their community and change local community environmental conditions tied to substance use. More than 750 community coalitions across the country receive funding up to $125,000 per year to strengthen collaboration among local partners and create an infrastructure that reduces youth substance use.

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The DFC program goals are to:

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• Establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, public and private non-profit agencies, and Federal, state, local and tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance use among youth.

• Reduce substance use among youth and, over time, reduce substance use among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase risk for substance use and promoting factors that minimize risk for substance use.

HCPH is a sub-contractor of Sandusky County Public Health for this grant. The purpose of this program is to help reduce the onset and progression of substance misuse and its related problems by supporting the development and delivery of community-based substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion services.

 

The program is intended to expand and strengthen the capacity of local community prevention providers to implement evidence-based prevention programs. HCPH's substances of focus are nicotine vaping and marijuana. 

HCPH is direct-funded for this grant through the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). HCPH's areas of focus include: Reducing access to lethal means, CALM training, and Signs of Suicide training. 

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For Reducing Access to Lethal Means, we have partnered with area agencies to give out free gun safes and cable locks. 

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HCPH has contracted with CALM America to provide training to area medical providers. 

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HCPH is working to implement Signs of Suicide Training in our local Huron County schools.