Communities That Care

Posted on September 1, 2010

Five Town CTC Among Awardees as White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Gives Out $85.6 Million

Five Town Communities That Care was one of the 16 new DFC Mentor Grant awardees across the nation, and is also among the 549 DFC Coalitions awarded continuation funding.  The DFC Mentor Grant will provide supplemental funding for Five Town Communities That Care to work with Greater Old Town Communities That Care to rebuild, retrain, and institutionalize their prevention coalition.  The end goal of this supplemental grant program is to enable Greater Old Town Communities That Care to be successful at landing its own DFC Support Program grant in two years.  The DFC Mentor Grant will provide $75,000 per year for two years, with funds first becoming available in October.

“The Drug Free Communities program embodies the Obama Administration’s dedication to evidence-based community prevention efforts that protect the health of our young people,” said Director Kerlikowske. “Data show that communities receiving DFC funding have seen significant reductions in past 30-day use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana among middle and high school students. I applaud the hard work of local community leaders, youth, parents, educators, healthcare professionals, faith-based leaders, law enforcement officials, and others who are working together daily to strengthen communities and save kids’ lives.”

“Action at the community level—in school rooms, community centers, churches and at kitchen tables—can help drive rates of substance abuse down,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. “SAMHSA is pleased to join the Office of National Drug Control Policy in supporting communities that are bringing people together to create healthy and drug free environments for children.”

The Drug Free Communities program is directed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The DFC program provides grants of up to $625,000 over five years to community coalitions that facilitate citizen participation in local youth drug prevention efforts including prescription drug diversion and prevention initiatives and underage drinking programs. Coalitions are comprised of community leaders, parents, youth, teachers, religious and fraternal organizations, health care and business professionals, law enforcement, and the media.

Five Town Communities That Care will begin its third year as a DFC funded coalition in October.  The DFC Support Program grant will provide the coalition with an opportunity for non-competitive renewal for an additional two years ($125,000 per year).  At that time Five Town CTC will be eligible to reapply for another five-year cycle of funding.  There are currently ten other DFC funded coalitions in Maine; one of these was also funded as a DFC Mentor Grantee this year.

For More information about ONDCP and its programs visit: www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov. For more information about Five Town Communities That Care, visit www.fivetownctc.org, email info@fivetownctc.org, or call (207) 236-9800.

(Portions of this article were taken directly from a press release by ONDCP dated August 31, 2010 and published on the ONDCP website at http://www.ondcp.gov/news/press10/083110.html.)

Posted on August 30, 2010

STAR Registration Materials Available for Download

Registration materials for the upcoming STAR after-school program cycle (beginning on September 15th) were mailed to parents of  local public school students on August 27th.  For those not receiving the materials in the mail, please check with your school to ensure that they have your correct mailing address!  Additional packets are available at Appleton Village School, Hope Elementary School, Lincolnville Central School, Camden-Rockport Middle School or the Five Town CTC offices at 219 Meadow Street in Rockport.  The brochure and registration packet can also be downloaded from the Five Town CTC website (please go to the STAR page and see the links on the left side of the page).

If you are having difficulty getting a copy, or have questions about the program, please contact the STAR program coordinator, Nicole O’Brien Blake by phoning 975-6722, or emailing star@fivetownctc.org.

Posted on August 26, 2010

STAR Registration Underway!

Five Town Communities That Care is pleased to announce that the award-winning STAR after-school program is set to begin again this fall on September 15th. This will be the 20th cycle of STAR, which has served over half of all the area’s public middle school students in the past several years.  As in the past, the program will be offered at no charge to participants.  Transportation between local public middle schools and program locations is provided.

This fall’s offerings include Creative Writing, Green Thumb Gardening, Animal Antics, Improvisational Drama, Jewelry-Making, Aldermere Farm Hands, Youth Fitness, Freestyle Jiu Jitsu, Knit Wits, and Cooking.  The program features a wonderful line-up of instructors and support staff, and will take place around the community in locations such as Camden Hills Regional High School, the Erickson Preserve, Camden-Rockport Animal Rescue League, the Penobscot Bay YMCA, Mid-coast Martial Arts studio at the Midcoast Recreation Center, and Farmers Fare.

Students attend skill training on either Mondays and Wednesdays OR Tuesdays and Thursdays, and all students come together for group activities on Fun Fridays.  This fall Fun Fridays will include trips to Hope Orchards, Merry Spring Nature Center, Aldermere Farm, The Teen Center, and The Penobscot Bay YMCA.

Registration packets have been mailed to parents of all grade 5-8 students enrolled in public schools in Appleton, Camden, Hope, Lincolnville, and Rockport. Registration packets are also available for middle school students from the Five Towns who attend private schools or who are home schooled by calling the Five Town Communities That Care offices at 236-9800 or emailing star@fivetownctc.org.

The STAR program is made possible by a generous grant from Maine’s  Juvenile Justice Advisory Group and local donations.  For more information about STAR or Five Town Communities That Care, visit www.fivetownctc.org, call 207-236-9800, or email info@fivetownctc.org.