Three Northland prevention coalitions supported by Tri-County Mental Health Services have each received $125,000 in new or renewed grant funding to continue and expand their programming and advocacy work in preventing youth substance use.
Excelsior Springs SAFE (Substance Abuse-Free Environments), Liberty Alliance for Youth (LAFY) and the Ray County Coalition were awarded Federal Drug Free Communities (DFC) grants for the 2018 year.
The announcement was the first such grant for the Ray County Coalition. Excelsior Springs is working on their second year and LAFY is in their fifth year of the program.
The groups are comprised of community volunteers who represent education, health, law enforcement, parents/students and other sectors of the community. In addition to their support from Tri-County, the groups receive funding through grants and donations from community businesses and individuals.
For more information on SAFE, visit www.facebook.com/ESSAFE/ or contact Program Director Julia Mees, (816) 589-6697 or safedfc@gmail.com.
For more information on LAFYI, visit libertyalliance4youth.com or contact Prevention Program Director Kendra Callaway at (816) 679-5361 or kendra.callaway@gmail.com.
For more information on the Ray County Coalition, contact Community Prevention Specialist Kara White at karaw@tri-countymhs.org or 816-877-0401.
More information on all Northland community groups is available through the Northland Coalition, www.northlandcoalition.com.
