Campus-Community Coalition Receives Federal Grant

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The U.S. Office of Justice Programs has awarded more than $17 million to 50 states and the District of Columbia to assist the collaborative efforts of families, communities and law enforcement agencies as they combat underage use and abuse of drugs and alcohol.

"These awards fund initiatives to assist youth in preventing alcohol and substance abuse by strong enforcement of laws and zero tolerance for those who provide alcohol to minors," says Regina B. Schofield, assistant attorney general for the Office of Justice Programs. "In addition, prevention programs will assist youths and their families with developing alternatives to drinking."

The Kittitas County Community Network received one of those awards to support and enhance the on-going efforts of the Campus-Community Coalition. The "Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws" will provide $77,000 each year for the next three years for enforcement activities and education programs for Ellensburg and Central Washington University.

"This is a terrific opportunity for the Coalition to move forward with many new enforcement initiatives and education activities," says Lynne Harrison Imamshah, Campus-Community Coalition coordinator.

They include compliance checks of retail alcohol outlets to reduce sales to minors, crackdowns on fake identification and other deterrents to minors trying to buy alcohol, reducing the provision of alcohol to minors and discouraging it access at large youth gatherings, and youth-focused campaigns to enforce impaired-driving laws.

"The efforts to build and support a collaborative approach within our community have taken a combination of desire and commitment by the various partners represented," adds Michael Stafford, chair of the Kittitas County Community Network and assistant juvenile court administrator/probation manager. "This grant funding provides the means to put those efforts into action."

Contact: Lynne Harrison Imamshah (509-963-3240/fax 509-963-1813/e-mail: lynnei@cwu.edu)

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