Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is delivering Federal funding to keep Georgia kids safe from addiction and overdose.
Today, Sen. Ossoff is delivering $875,000 in Federal grant funding through the Drug-Free Communities Support Programs (DFC), which will empower 7 community programs that promote drug-free environments for Georgia’s youth in Barrow, Bartow, Coffee, DeKalb, Elbert, Fulton, and Jenkins Counties.
“I’m delivering this Federal funding that will empower Georgia communities to keep kids safe from addiction and overdose,” Sen. Ossoff said.
Created in 1997, the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program funds community-based coalitions that engage multiple sectors of the community to prevent youth substance use. The DFC Support Program provides grants up to $125,000 per year for five years to community coalitions to strengthen the infrastructure among local partners to create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use.
DFCs involve local community leaders in identifying local needs to help families and youth prevent substance abuse in their communities, including parents, businesses, media, schools, health care professionals, law enforcement, and faith communities, among others. These leaders help identify solutions and apply a balanced and comprehensive approach to reducing substance use in their neighborhoods.
Today’s new grants come in addition to $2.8 million in previous grants Sen. Ossoff announced in late July.
Please find a breakdown of new Federal grant awards Sen. Ossoff today announced:
| Community | Coalition Name | Grant Recipient | Federal funding |
| Douglas | Coffee County Youth Coalition | Coffee County Board of Education | $125,000 |
| Elberton | Drug-Free ELBERT Coalition | Elbert County School District | $125,000 |
| Millen | Jenkins County Drug Free Communities Coalition | Jenkins County Family Enrichment Center | $125,000 |
| Stone Mountain | Decatur Prevention Initiative | Decatur Prevention Initiative Incorporated | $125,000 |
| Cartersville | Bartow Against Drugs | Bartow County Government | $125,000 |
| Auburn | Auburn Prevention Project | Family Connection Communities in Schools | $125,000 |
| East Point & College Park | Operation Drug Free Community | Future Seekers, Inc. | $125,000 |
This past May, Sen. Ossoff joined a bipartisan group of Senators introducing the bipartisan STRONGER Actto reduce recidivism by providing treatment for inmates with substance use disorders.
Last October, Sen. Ossoff delivered $7 million to the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) to strengthen Georgia’s response to the opioid epidemic and save lives.
In 2022, following his push to eliminate drug trafficking at Georgia’s ports of entry, Sen. Ossoff secured new resources to help crack down on illegal drug circulation in Georgia and combat future spreads.
In 2022, Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was signed into law to help rural communities experiencing a high level of opioid overdoses respond to the crisis.
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