LIHU‘E — County officials announced that the Anti-Drug Office was awarded a $1.2 million grant for underage drinking prevention programs. The funding is part of a 2006 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration federal grant, and is administered by
LIHU‘E — County officials announced that the Anti-Drug Office was awarded a $1.2 million grant for underage drinking prevention programs.
The funding is part of a 2006 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration federal grant, and is administered by the state Department of Health Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, a county news release states.
“We are pleased to receive tremendous support from state and federal agencies for the prevention of underage drinking in our community,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. “Research has shown that our young people are starting to consume alcohol at a younger age these days so we need to bolster our efforts to prevent this from occurring.”
Anti-Drug Coordinator Theresa Koki encourages program providers whose mission is to reduce and/or prevent underage drinking to attend an informational meeting regarding the grant.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 9, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Lihu‘e Civic Center in the Pi‘ikoi Building, conference room A and B.
“We need to work together to solve the problem of underage drinking. The SAMHSA grant will allow us to provide financial support for programs that aim to help our youth,” said Koki, noting that program providers will be able to apply for grant money in the near future.
The SAMHSA funds will also be used to implement an evidence-based environmental strategy called Communities Mobilizing for Change in Alcohol, which is designed to change policies and practices of major community institutions such as licensing agencies, civic groups, schools, churches and the media.
“Changing the social and policy environment in our community is essential for long-term success with prevention,” said Koki.
For more information, contact Koki at 241-4925 or via e-mail at tkoki@kauai.gov.
To request an American Sign Language interpreter, materials in an alternate format, or other auxiliary aids, call Koki at least five days before the informational meeting.
