REP. THOMPSON ANNOUNCES $125,000 DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES GRANT FOR UP VALLEY PARTNERSHIP FOR YOUTH

September 25, 2015
Press Release

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today announced a $125,000 Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grant for the UpValley Partnership for Youth, a broad-based prevention coalition led by the Napa County Office of Education and the UpValley Family Centers. The DFC Program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

"Drug-free communities are strong communities," said Thompson. "A healthier and drug-free youth population means less crime, more community involvement, better grades and school attendance, and increased engagement in healthy activities. This grant will support the Up Valley Partnership for Youth's efforts to keep kids off drugs, and help our younger population stay on healthy and successful paths. I am proud to support their important work."

"We're very pleased that this grant will allow us to continue to expand services and provide critical information to parents about the risks of alcohol and marijuana use for teenagers, which are significantly greater than for adults," said Barbara Nemko, Superintendent of the Napa County Office of Education. "Educating parents is a key factor in reducing substance abuse."

"As a nonprofit serving over 3,500 youth and adults annually in northern Napa County, we look forward to expanding our prevention and education programs to both English and Spanish speaking families," noted Jenny Ocon, executive director of the UpValley Family Centers. "Parents desperately want facts about alcohol and marijuana prevention, and this grant will allow us to significantly increase outreach, information, education and support."

The UpValley Partnership for Youth serves Northern Napa County with the goal of establishing and strengthening community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance use. The funds will be used the help the Up Valley Partnership for Youth achieve its goal by implementing these strategies:

  • Expand the Up Valley Partnership for Youth coalition's membership and capacity.
  • Engage the coalition's membership to maximize individual strengths, interests and passions to achieve the coalition's goals.
  • Provide trainings and increase the capacity of staff and coalition members to plan and implement successful prevention programs.
  • Understand current school and community policies and enforcement related to youth alcohol use.
  • Conduct outreach to Up Valley parents and students to increase awareness about the risks of youth alcohol use and what parents can do to prevent youth alcohol use at home.
  • Engage parents, community members and students to support the enforcement of underage drinking laws.
  • Understand current school and community policies and enforcement related to youth marijuana use.
  • Conduct outreach to Up Valley parents and students to increase awareness about the risks of youth marijuana use and what can be done at home to prevent use.
  • Advocate with local law enforcement and school officials to limit youth access to marijuana

The DFC Program supports communities as they mobilize individuals and organizations to reduce youth substance use. The 2014 DFC National Evaluation Report has concluded that among middle and high school students across the Nation, DFC-funded community coalitions consistently have lower rates of past 30-day youth substance use.

Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.

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