CONTACT: Kelly O’Connor,
Prevention Services Manager,
Oak Park Township, 708-383-8005, ext. 125 koconnor@oakparktownship.org
Gavin Morgan, Oak Park Township Manager,
708-383-8005, gmorgan@oakparktownship.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 1, 2019
Positive Youth Development Workgroup Receives 5-year Grant totaling $625,000
The Workgroup for Positive Youth Development (+PYD), convened by the Oak Park Township Prevention Services department, was awarded a five-year Drug-Free Communities Support Program grant in the amount of $125,000 per year through 2024 by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in cooperation with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. +PYD is a Community Coalition of public and private partners that serves Oak Park and River Forest residents by identifying needs and evidence-based solutions. The goal of the Coalition is to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance use. The Coalition will utilize the grant funds to help achieve its goals by implementing the following strategies:
- Responsible Beverage Service and Liquor Compliance Checks
- Communication Campaigns for both Adults and Youth
- Youth Prevention Education in schools
The Coalition also provides education and information through other alcohol and drug prevention initiatives including: National Prescription Take Back Day and Red Ribbon Week, an annual drug prevention awareness program.
The Workgroup for Positive Youth Development is comprised of parents, educators, law enforcement officials, local governmental agencies, and other community organizations.
By applying the Strategic Prevention Framework, +PYD is able to provide data and evidence-based strategies to support policy makers, providers, parents, and youth in addressing the environmental factors that can lead to higher rates of substance use among youth.
According to Kelly O’Connor, Prevention Services Manager for Oak Park Township, “This grant will allow us to continue and expand our efforts over the last five years to bring the community together to support youth in making healthy choices to be alcohol and drug free.”
+PYD is also funded by a five-year grant from the Federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, administered from the Illinois Department of Human Services.
To learn more about +PYD, please visit https://oakparktownship.org/pyd.