SRSLY Manchester awarded grant to fund drug prevention efforts

SRSLY Manchester sponsored the “Haunted Hallways” last weekend at Manchester High School.

SRSLY Manchester has been awarded a Drug-Free Communities grant from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The grant will provide $625,000 over five years for the coalition to build on its current anti-drug activities and programs.

Manchester Community Schools will continue its partnership with SRSLY Manchester, and will act as the fiduciary agent for the grant.

“Manchester is a resilient community committed to educating and empowering its youth so that they may live healthy, fulfilling lives,” said Alex Duranczyk, coalition director for SRSLY Manchester. “We could not have received this grant without dedicated and passionate supporters. This grant gives us the opportunity to strengthen our prevention efforts and make an even greater impact among young people in our community.”

Since 2009, SRSLY Manchester (formerly known as Manchester Voices) has implemented anti-drug campaigns such as Project Sticker Shock, Positive Social Norms, Red Ribbon Week, and fun events such as Haunted Hallways. To learn more about these programs, please visit www.srslymanchester.org or call 517-851-1097.

The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program is the nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent youth substance use. Directed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the DFC Program provided $90.9 million in grants this year to 731 local drug prevention coalitions to strengthen the infrastructure among local partners and to create and sustain a reduction in youth substance use.

“Since our first grant awards were made in 1998, the DFC Program has continued to expand its reach in communities across the country,” said ONDCP deputy director James W. Carroll. “It is a testament to the great work DFC coalitions are doing, together with community partners that include parent groups, schools, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, businesses, and others to prevent drug use and improve the health of communities. Our local DFC coalitions are a key part of this effort because they are relentless in their work to prevent youth from initiating drug use and ultimately, saving more lives.”

SRSLY Manchester has received support from the Manchester Wellness Coalition, the Drug Free Communities Mentor Program, Community Mental Health Partnerships of Southeast Michigan, St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea, and the 5 Healthy Towns Foundation.

SRSLY Manchester at last year’s “Sticker Shock” event.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.