AGENCIES RECEIVE 'DRUG-FREE' GRANTS

Three Coulee Region agencies have received federal grants for programs to
combat the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among young people.

CESA No. 4, a collaborative agency that provides support and resources to 26
school districts in Western Wisconsin, received $100,000 for programs in its
service area; Couleecap Inc. received $71,285 for programs in Vernon County;
and the Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital-CARE Council received $100,000
for programs in Crawford County.

The three agencies announced the grants at a joint press conference Friday
in La Crosse.

The Drug-Free Communities matching grants are provided by the White House
Office on National Drug Control Policy. The renewable grants require
community support and collaboration and are administered by the Substance

Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Activities planned for this year for CESA No. 4 include a Regional Youth
Conference, developing and distributing educational materials addressing
alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, conducting regional educational
workshops on substance abuse prevention, conducting a community readiness
survey, training professionals in research-based parenting programs,
providing funding for school districts to purchase research-based
curriculum.

Couleecap, which partners with the Vernon County Partnership Council, and
the CARE Council will use their funding for similar prevention and awareness
programs. Kathy Ames-Sherry is the prevention coordinator for Couleecap.
Rick Peterson oversees the Care Council programs.

All three agencies work with local and county law enforcement agencies,
schools and other community organizations.