PEACE: Prevention Education and Community Empowerment 

We envision a St. Lawrence County focused on prevention education, harm reduction, and mental health support, aimed at reducing substance use, promoting well-being, and fostering a community of care, understanding, and support for all youth & families to thrive together.

DFC grants are driven by risk and protective factors using data-driven information collected from the St. Lawrence County Schools Districts. 

Recognizing that local problems need local solutions, Drug-Free Communities (DFC)-funded coalitions engage multiple sectors of the community and employ a variety of environmental strategies to address local substance use problems.

The primary purpose of the DFC program is to: Establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, public and private non-profit agencies; as well as federal, state, local, and tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance use among youth.

Why does this matter?

Protective factors exert a positive influence and buffer against the negative influence of risk. Thus, reducing the risks will decrease the likelihood that adolescents will engage in problem behaviors.

How will this help?

• Opportunities for young people to actively contribute
• Develop youth skills to be able to contribute.
• Offer consistent recognition
• Reinforcement of youth efforts and accomplishments

PEACE is that opportunity!