Pubdate: Sat, 22 Jan 2005 Source: La Crosse Tribune (WI) Copyright: 2005, The La Crosse Tribune Contact: http://www.lacrossetribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/229 Author: Gayda Hollnagel 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh