Drug-Free Youth Coalition (DFYC)

The Drug-Free Youth Coalition of York County is a nonprofit organization established on December 23rd, 2025, to reduce youth substance use by improving community health and wellness. The coalition is an initiative under the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program, which is the nation's leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent youth substance use.

Established in 1997 by the Drug-Free Communities Act, the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program is overseen by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in partnership with the CDC. The DFC program provides vital grants to community coalitions, empowering them to reduce youth substance use at the local level.

Through community coalitions, the DFC Support Program brings together local organizations to address youth substance use collaboratively. Its primary objectives include strengthening anti-drug coalitions, enhancing coordination among local agencies, and reducing risk factors associated with youth substance abuse. Notably, the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that communities with active coalitions experienced up to a 15% decline in adolescent substance use rates over five years—a testament to the program’s emphasis on evidence-based prevention.

The DFC program mobilizes community leaders to identify and address drug-related challenges specific to their communities, working to shift local environmental factors associated with substance use. Coalitions nationwide may receive up to $125,000 per year, fostering collaboration among local partners and establishing lasting infrastructure to prevent youth substance use.

In partnership with the DFC Support Program, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Local Drug Crisis grants support 65 communities in expanding DFC initiatives. These grants drive sustainable, community-level change to prevent and reduce illicit opioid or methamphetamine use and prescription drug misuse among youth.

The DFC program has empowered more than 700 community coalitions nationwide to implement effective, evidence-based prevention strategies, resulting in measurable declines in youth substance use. For example, a coalition in Kentucky reduced teen vaping rates by 20% through targeted education and policy reform, while a California coalition decreased alcohol-related accidents among youth by 18%. Collectively, these coalitions have mobilized over 50,000 volunteers and reached more than 1 million youth in the past year.

Requirements for Drug-Free Youth Coalitions in the DFC Support Program

Drug-Free Youth Coalitions seeking support from the DFC Program must meet specific eligibility criteria.

Building Effective Partnerships

Successful drug-free youth coalitions forge strong partnerships with schools, families, and a variety of local organizations. For this program, each coalition must be a formal, community-based partnership that includes representatives from 12 required sectors, such as schools, youth-serving organizations, parents, youth, law enforcement, civic or volunteer groups, local government, and other relevant organizations. While each group maintains its unique identity, all collaborate toward the shared goal of reducing substance use. These diverse sectors work together to form a unified, multi-sector coalition that implements evidence-based prevention strategies in their communities.

Core Initiatives and Programs

Community-level change is driven by seven strategies. These strategies target both individuals and the broader community to maximize impact.

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•    Provide information about youth substance use through educational presentations, workshops, seminars, and informational campaigns such as PSAs, brochures, town halls, forums, web content, or social media. All information must focus on reducing substance use and misuse and comply with relevant laws, regulations, and policies.

• ·       Build skills among youth, adults, and community members to foster positive social interactions and sound decision-making. This can be achieved through workshops, seminars, training sessions, parenting classes, planning retreats, and school-based model programs.

• ·       Provide support by creating opportunities that reduce risk factors or strengthen protective factors for youth. Activities may include mentoring, service referrals, support groups, and youth clubs.

• ·       Increase access, remove barriers, and strengthen connections between systems and services that prevent youth substance use. Improvements may include better access to transportation, housing, education, safety resources, recreational facilities, and culturally responsive prevention programs.

• ·       Change consequences to encourage positive behaviors and deter negative ones. For example, recognition programs may reward merchants who comply with substance sale regulations.

• ·       Modify the community's physical environment to reduce risks and strengthen protection against youth substance use. Examples include educating stakeholders about rerouting traffic, adjusting park hours, or limiting access to alcohol or tobacco.

• ·       Educate stakeholders about policies that limit youth access to substances. This can include creating or updating procedures, bylaws, proclamations, rules, or laws, as well as implementing workplace initiatives, law enforcement practices, and other public policy measures.

Goal of the Coalition

Over the short term (1–2 years), effective prevention strategies should focus on deepening the understanding of youth substance use patterns and increasing awareness of coalition initiatives targeting this issue within the community. Efforts should be made to expand outreach and engage a broader range of community sectors, while also strengthening the capacity of local agencies and organizations to address youth substance use. Improving intergovernmental cooperation and collaboration is crucial for changing the conditions that contribute to substance use among young people.

In the intermediate term (3–4 years), the emphasis should shift toward reducing risk factors in the community that contribute to substance use, while at the same time promoting protective factors that decrease the likelihood of youth engaging in substance use. It is important to increase access to programs that foster self-efficacy and prevention skills among youth, and to implement targeted measures that limit their access to substances.

For the long term (5 years), the goal is to establish and sustain strong collaboration among community members and organizations to address youth substance use. Ultimately, these efforts should result in a measurable reduction of substance use among youth, with positive long-term effects that extend to the adult population as well.

Want to learn more about the coalition?

Visit: https://www.drugfreeyouth.net/

Call: 717-683-2942

Email: contact@drugfreeyouth.net