Creating a Drug Free Community

In late 2015, CCCC was awarded the Drug-Free Communities Grant. DFC is a federal grant for the term of 5 years aimed to reduce substance use among youth and, over time, reduce substance misuse among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of substance abuse and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance misuse.

What an honor it is for our organization to be the recipient of such an elite grant to support substance prevention efforts among Columbia County youth further. CCCC has formed the Drug-Free Community Coalition comprised of area partners and community leaders who share in the efforts to prevent and decrease youth substance misuse in Columbia County. The mission of the coalition is to bring various sectors of the community together to prevent and reduce substance use and the negative impact of substance use in Columbia County through awareness, collaboration, education, and action. For more information or to get involved, please contact Prevention Outreach Coordinator Demetrius Middleton at 706-650-5010 or email at dmiddleton@connectcolumbia.org

Data driven Programs

Community Connections utilizes national, state, and local data collected through SAMHSA, ONCDP, and the Georgia Student Health Survey to drive its initiatives from community education and prevention programming to advocacy with local partners to create a drug free and healthy Columbia County.

community collaboration

Substance misuse does not happen in a vacuum. In partnership with the Drug Free Coalition and its members, CCCC provides direct outreach, prescription drug take back days, and strategically leverages its relationships to execute community change. Not only does CCCC target reducing substance misuse, it promotes health, home, purpose, and community among youth.

education & advocacy

CCCC has multiple strategies to promote a healthy Columbia County from its Youth Action Team to Strengthening Families Program to Teen Court to its afterschool program, The Dream Academy. In addition, CCCC provides education to community partners on subjects ranging from overdose prevention to SAMHSA’s strategic prevention framework.