It was informally announced last August that the Newton County Hometown Health Initiative's (HHI) Partners in Prevention (PIP) coalition became a recipient of the prestigious Federal Drug Free Communities (DFC) Grant providing $125,000 a year for 5 years. Its goal is to create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use. After five years, the coalition may re-compete for another five-year cycle. The announcement was jointly made by the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership (ARORP), Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC) and the Arkansas Municipal League (AML).
Seven out of 13 Coalition Partnership Empowerment (COPE) coalitions across the state were awarded the grant in 2024.
HHI applied for Arkansas Opioid Settlement funds in 2022 and was awarded $25,000 that paid for membership in CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions Of America) and attending training sessions held in Little Rock and online throughout 2023 in preparation of making application for the DFC grant. It was submitted last April.
The Jasper School District is the grant's fiduciary agent. The board of education budgeted the funding, establish the salary for the position and hired Bailey Taylor as the DFC project director/coordinator.
The mission statement of Newton County Partners in Prevention: "Creating drug free communities in Newton County through education of prescription meds/opioids, alcohol and other drugs to prevent and reduce youth substance misuse in the communities served."
Its vision statement is: "To develop a path of knowledge for Newton County youth and families for a healthy, happy and whole life."
