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Rep. Swalwell Announces Grants to Prevent Youth Substance Use in Hayward and Ashland/Cherryland

September 16, 2013

HAYWARD, CA – U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15) today announced that the Hayward Coalition for Healthy Youth and Ashland Cherryland Violence Prevention Collaborative will each receive a federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant worth $125,000 per year for five years. The grants will fund their respective efforts to reduce youth substance use and are administered by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

"As a Dublin City Councilmember I worked to tighten tobacco laws in the community and as a prosecutor I often saw young people led astray by substance abuse. Combatting these problems are some of the important investments we can make to ensure a thriving local community," said Rep. Swalwell. "I congratulate the Hayward Coalition for Healthy Youth and Ashland Cherryland Violence Prevention Collaborative on being selected for federal grants to help our East Bay youth avoid dangerous substance abuse. Their efforts are critical to our young people remaining healthy and safe so they can achieve their full potential."

"We have the power to challenge and reduce drug use among young people here in Ashland and Cherryland, " said Linda Pratt, Program Director with CommPre, a program of Horizon Services, Inc, which serves as the fiscal agent for the DFC initiative of the Ashland Cherryland Violence Prevention Collaborative. "Research demonstrates that prevention is the most effective tool the community has to reduce youth access to drugs, and lessen the terrible consequences associated with drug use among youth and adults. This new funding will allow Ashland Cherryland Violence Prevention Collaborative to support young people to live healthier lives and build a safer community for all of us."

"We are thrilled to receive this DFC grant to support our efforts to reduce drug use among young people here in Hayward," said Rose Hansen, Executive Director with Eden Youth and Family Center, which serves as the fiscal agent for DFC initiative of the Hayward Coalition for Healthy Youth. "Thanks to this funding, we can continue to help Hayward youth make smart choices by preventing harmful drug use before it starts. Our community will benefit and our young people will be healthy and safe."

The DFC Grant Program was created by the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 and reauthorized by Congress in 2001 and 2006.