InnerAct Alliance Awarded Drug Free Communities Continuation Grant to Prevent Youth Substance Abuse

InnerAct Alliance is the proud recipient of a Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC) Continuation Grant awarded this month by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The grant provides community coalitions needed support to facilitate citizen participation in local efforts to prevent and reduce youth substance abuse.
InnerAct Alliance, formerly the Drug Prevention Resource Center, has worked diligently since 1985 to reduce the abuse and underage use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs through: Community Awareness and Involvement; Prevention Education; Economic Support; and Leadership Development. The agency serves as the fiscal agent for the StandUP Polk (adult-based) and UthMpact (youth-based) Coalitions for a Drug-Free Polk to help educate about the dangers of substance abuse and bring about positive changes for Polk County.

To continue to be eligible for this grant funding, StandUP Polk and InnerAct Alliance have been tasked with working together on youth prevention initiatives for reducing prescription drug abuse and underage drinking with representation from 12 sectors of the community.

“Our efforts to keep youth substance-free are critical to creating and maintaining a healthy and safe community here in Polk County,” said Angie Ellison, executive director. “We are honored to have been awarded a DFC Continuation Grant to allow our Coalition and its partners to continue the important work that began with the initial grant in 2010, and remain focused on accomplishing our community’s long-term plan to reduce youth substance abuse!”

Some of the on-going successful coalition partnership projects supported by DFC grant funding over the past 2 years include the UthMpact Leadership Program (created in 2011); Annual Community Drug Summits (2010-2012); twice-yearly county-wide Purge Your Pills Rx Drop off events; increased capacity within both the StandUP Polk (adult) and UthMpact (youth) coalitions; increased collaboration between Hardee, Highlands, and Polk county coalition efforts that has resulted in the creation of an exciting new tri-county coalition slogo, and hiring of additional staff. The continuation grant will enable the Coalition partners to continue the important work that needs to be accomplished on our community’s long-term plan to reduce youth substance abuse.

Upcoming coalition events this fall include the 3rd Annual Drug Summit on September 27, 2012, from 8 am to 4 pm, at the Stuart Center on U.S. 17 in Bartow, and the DEA Purge Your Pills Rx Drop Off on September 29, 2012, from 10 am to 2 pm, at the Auburndale, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales, Lakeland, and Winter Haven police department locations.

For additional information on StandUP Polk, UthMpact, and InnerAct Alliance’s prevention programs and services in the local community, please contact InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777.