Sep 30 2003

Graham Announces $100,000 to Fight Drug Abuse Among Lexington/Richland Youth

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties, fiscal agent for the Community Roundtable of Irmo, Dutch Fork, and Chapin, will receive a $99,984 Drug Free Community grant to support their efforts to reduce substance abuse among youth in Lexington and Richland counties. The funds will be used to:
  • Establish Family Resource Centers in low-income, subsidized housing communities;
  • Provide youth with tutoring and academic assistance, mentoring, recreational opportunities, and cultural enrichment activities;
  • Implement science-based drug prevention and parenting programs;
  • Support community policing, gang prevention, adult education, and family strengthening initiatives;
  • Improve coalition facilitation and management; raise community awareness;
  • Cultivate membership to increase levels of community involvement;
  • Recruit underrepresented groups t become involved in coalition activities.
“Coalitions like this help South Carolina’s youth avoid the pitfalls of abusing drugs and alcohol,” said Graham. “They take a unique approach to this serious problem, addressing not only law enforcement and education, but also getting families actively involved in the lives of their children.” The Drug-Free Communities Program provides grants of up to $100,000 to community organizations that serve as catalysts for citizen participation in local drug prevention efforts. 183 new grants totaling $17.5 million were awarded today to community anti-drug coalitions across the country. The grants were awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice. ####