WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) today announced $125,000 in federal funding for the Upton/Druid Heights Strengthening Families Coalition to boost local and community partnerships to prevent youth substance use.

This new federal investment in Baltimore will help enhance educational programming and campaigns about substance abuse for more than 10,000 youth in the region.

“By investing in high-impact education and prevention programs that directly reach young adults, we can more effectively combat and curtail substance use,” the lawmakers said. “Team Maryland will continue to support efforts that empower our communities and improve health outcomes across our state.”

Funding comes through the Fiscal Year 2020 Drug Free-Communities (DFC) Support Program, administered by the White House Office of Drug Control Policy, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The DFC program delivers funding to community organizations that engage citizens in local drug prevention efforts. DFC-funded coalitions bring together multiple sectors of the community and employ a variety of effective strategies to address substance use in communities across the country.