SAFE GETS GRANT TO PREVENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE

SYLACAUGA - Thanks to a coalition of partners, Sylacauga Alliance for
Family Enhancement Inc. has received a $250,000 state grant to support a
unified community effort to protect youth from substance abuse.

The coalition is known as Prevention Partners. It includes the Sylacauga
City School System, Talladega County School System, law enforcement and
many other partners, said Margaret Morton, executive director of SAFE.

The partners are all of those partnering with SAFE and Sylacauga's Promise,
she added.

Gov. Bob Riley announced the grant award Monday in Montgomery. SAFE is one
of six sites in the state to implement this project.

The mission of the project is to prevent juvenile use of alcohol, tobacco
and illegal drugs in targeted schools in the county.

Prevention Partners will focus initial prevention efforts toward B.B. Comer
Memorial School, Nichols-Lawson Middle School, Indian Valley Elementary
School and Pinecrest Elementary School in Sylacauga.

"This grant is powerful ammunition in Alabama's fight to keep our children
away from the dangers of drugs and alcohol," Riley said. "It encourages
everyone to work together to reverse the negative impact of substance abuse."

The funds were awarded through a competitive process established by the
Alabama Unified Prevention System. Alabama UPS is a statewide prevention
program that builds health families and communities by coordinating local
resources to make substance abuse prevention efforts more efficient and
effective.

Community coalitions use grant funds to evaluate the impact of substance
abuse in their area and develop strategies for eliminating the abuse.

Morton said SAFE is the lead agency for the grant and without these
partners in the coalition the grant would not have been awarded.

"If not for the coalition, we would not have been competitive for the
grant," she said.

This is a minimum of a three year grant, which means SAFE will get $750,000
over that period.

The grant, Morton said, is going to be used to expand the BRIDGES program
to a site at B.B. Comer Memorial School, rejuvenate the Adopt-A-School
program in the community, start a Saturday school and a summer school in
the community.

The BRIDGES program provides youth development activities to youngsters
ages 8 to 14. As a primary prevention program, it is designed to equip
youth and families with skills to make healthy life choices while providing
safe, quality, after hours day care for youngsters.

Morton said this grant is going to provide a unique opportunity for
Sylacauga and Talladega County schools to work together.

In addition to working with students, the project will also provide some
drug awareness and prevention programs for parents.

Morton said the project will be framed around the five resources of
Sylacauga's Community of Promise and America's Promise. The five resources
provide a framework of developmental assets youth need to become competent,
responsible and caring adults. These five resources are on-going
relationships with care adults; safe places and structured activities; a
healthy start for a healthy future; marketable skills through effective
education; and opportunities to serve.

Morton thanked Amy Pope for the work she did in working on the grant and
pulling information together.

"She did a yeoman's job on this. This was a team effort on everyone's
behalf. It had to be for SAFE to be selected," Morton said.

Morton said SAFE was invited to apply for the grant because it has partners
in place already and programs under way addressing youth and substance abuse.

"This is a huge grant for us. These dollars can only be spent for this
specific project from expanding BRIDGES, Saturday School, drug prevention,
tutoring, summer school and other promotional activities," she said.

Riley awarded the grant from funds the state received from the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. He has designated the Alabama
Department of Economic and Community Affairs to administer the grant.

Bill Johnson, ADECA acting director, notified Morton the grant had been
approved.