For more information:
Scott Waller, State Project Manager, DASA, 360-725-3782
Deb Schnellman, Communications, DASA, 360-725-3763
Media Advisory
12 Washington Communities Receive Federal Grants
for Programs to Prevent Underage Drinking
OLYMPIA - The Washington State Department of Social and Health
Services' Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA) will distribute
$6.6 million to 12 Washington communities over the next five years to
support programs to prevent underage drinking.
The communities selected are within school districts where 23 percent of
8th graders reported recent alcohol use, according to the 2005
Washington State Healthy Youth Survey. Statewide, 18 percent of
8th graders reported recent alcohol use. To qualify for the
grants, the 12 communities and their schools demonstrated support for
reducing underage drinking, including a commitment to continue
implementing the Healthy Youth Survey.
"Children who start drinking alcohol before age 15 are five times more
likely than those who start after 21 to develop alcohol problems," said
Doug Allen, DASA's acting director. "When parents, community
groups, and schools join in educating youth and adults about the
consequences of underage drinking and restrict alcohol access and
marketing in their communities, our young people are more likely to make
healthy choices and be successful in school."
The goals of the project are to:
1) Prevent and reduce underage drinking.
2) Reduce substance-abuse problems in the community.
3) Build capacity and infrastructure for prevention programs.
4) Implement a process of using data to guide decision-making.
The 12 communities will each receive about $130,000 a year.
Working with a coalition and coordinator, each community will plan
prevention strategies that focus on their specific needs and resources.
Communities will implement programs proven to increase healthy behavior
among youth and parents and change community attitudes to be less
accepting of underage drinking.
DASA will administer the federal Strategic Prevention Framework-State
Incentive Grant. The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention administers
the project nationally.
Here is a list of the local schools, communities, and contacts for
programs that have been awarded the federal grants.
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