Henry grant benefits Trimble

To the editor,

On Wednesday, August 27, 2008, Director of National Drug Control Policy John Walters announced the new grant recipients for Drug-Free Communities Mentoring Support Program. Our neighbor, the Henry Co. CARE Team, was one of only 14 coalitions from across the country to receive the grant award. So how does Trimble County benefit? With this grant, the CARE Team will work with community leaders to revitalize and strengthen the Trimble Co. Drug-Free Task Force as they strive to make an impact on the reduction of substance use and abuse in Trimble County.

In recent years, lack of funding and leadership has dramatically reduced and limited the activities of the Task Force. When Denise Hall, former Prevention Specialist, was approached by colleagues from the CARE Team, everyone agreed it was a perfect partnership to re-energize the Task Force.

In order to receive the grant, the CARE Team had to demonstrate the similarities among the two counties, existence of working relationships with Trimble Co. community members, a solid infrastructure as an established coalition, a history of success in making a positive impact in Henry County, and leadership capacity to provide necessary training to another coalition’s members. Also, Task Force members (such as the Sheriff Coons, Family Resource Center staff, local churches, businesses, and more) had to show a great desire and commitment to the training and work needed to expand the Task Force

Director Walters, also known as President Bush’s “Drug Czar”, stated, “Today, 860,000 fewer youth are using drugs than in 2001. Together, as a nation, we have made significant progress in our efforts against substance abuse. Coalitions like the Henry County CARE Team and Trimble Co. Drug-Free Task Force are important partners in pushing back against the harms of drug abuse.”

Grant funds will allow Task Force leadership and members to receive training and technical assistance from CARE Team staff and coalition members. We will work together to develop an effective strategic plan to implement activities and projects that will promote a safer, drug-free community.

The CARE Team is honored to have this opportunity with our neighbors in Trimble County and look forward to the successes they will experience as they grow. The CARE Team would also like to extend a special thanks to Denise Hall and the many Task Force members that have showed commitment to the partnership and provided information for the grant application. Together, Trimble and Henry County will make great partners to reduce alcohol and drug abuse among our children and youth.

For more information on the Henry Co. CARE Team, check out the website at www.hccares.org or call the office at 878-0001. For more information on the Drug-Free Communities grant programs, visit the website for the Office of Drug Control Policy at www.ondcp.gov/dfc.

Sharla Whitt

Associate Director, Henry County CARE Team