Funding Alert! Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act Local Drug Crises Grants

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Attention previous recipients of Drug-Free Communities (DFC) awards! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now accepting applications for its 2021 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Local Drug Crises Grants program, which builds upon past DFC and CARA programs focused on substance use prevention. This opportunity aims to prevent opioid, methamphetamine, and/or prescription drug use/misuse among youth ages 12-18. Proposals for this program are due April 1, 2021.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are domestic community-based coalitions that are actively working to address emerging local issues or crises related to the abuse of opioids, methamphetamines, and/or prescription drugs in the community. The applicant must be a legal nonprofit entity that has received a grant under the DFC Act of 1997. The organization must also have local data that documents rates of opioid or methamphetamine abuse that are higher than national average.

What are the program activities?

Grant recipients will work with community leaders to identify and address local substance use issues among youth and implement evidence- and practice-based strategies to create sustainable change in their communities. Using the Seven Strategies for Community-Level Change, CARA coalitions will work to limit access to substances, change the culture and context around substance use-related decision-making, and shift the consequences for substance use among youth. The seven strategies include the following:

  1. Provide information to raise community-level awareness;
  2. Enhance skills to promote education and safety around substance use;
  3. Provide support that creates opportunities for healthy alternative activities;
  4. Enhance access/reduce barriers to preventative services and programs;
  5. Change consequences to incentivize positive activities over negative ones;
  6. Change physical design of the community to reduce risk of youth substance use; and
  7. Educate and inform about modifying/changing policies to reduce the availability of and youths’ access to substances.

CARA coalitions will also use the evidence-based Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) to develop long-range community plans. The SPF involves (1) assessment of the issues, (2) building capacity to address the issues, (3) planning to create a 12-month action plan and multi-year strategic plan, (4) implementation of these plans, and (5) ongoing evaluation of activities, efforts, and strategies.

The funder expects to award 60 grants of an average of $50,000 per year for up to five years.

What makes a project a good fit?

Applicants to this program will define the communities they propose to serve; as such, they should choose an area and population size that will allow the coalition to effectively create change. Applicants should pay particular attention to underserved populations and populations at higher risk for substance abuse/misuse in their target communities, such as Black and Hispanic youth, transgender youth, youth in rural areas, or tribal populations. Finally, CARA coalitions are encouraged to collaborate with other entities, such as CDC programs, local community leaders, and other local entities that have been involved with past or current DFC awards.

What if I am ready to apply? To move your project forward, take the following action steps as soon as possible:

  • Download and review the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) from gov for additional program details.
  • Visit the CDC’s funding announcement page for this opportunity, where you can learn more about the CARA and DFC programs as well as view past funding announcements, FAQs, and previously funded programs.
  • Watch training videos that will assist with proposal preparation.
  • Make sure your System for Award Management (SAM) registration is active and be sure you have agov profile. You can check your SAM status here: https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/searchRecords/search.jsf.

What if I need help with this application?

Contact Assel Grant Services (AGS) today! Our team can help with all aspects of preparing the application and managing the grant if you are awarded. If you would like to discuss this possibility, please contact AGS as soon as possible. Rosie Brennan, Community Engagement Specialist, will be happy to talk with you about this opportunity and provide you a quote for grant services.

What if I am not ready to apply this year?

Start preparing for the next opportunity! The CDC’s DFC page also has a variety of other programs and funding opportunities available that might be a good fit. The program’s webpage provides additional resources, webinars, and descriptions of available or upcoming opportunities.

How do I learn more about federal grant opportunities?

AGS is excited to offer a new Federal Grants Training Series coming in 2021! The series is designed to support nonprofit professionals before and during their first federal grant. AGS also offers several on demand webinars on a variety of topics to support the full grant cycle. Check out our website to learn more and sign up for our training newsletter.

AGS blogs, funding alerts, and trainings are aligned with the Grant Professional Certification Institute’s Competencies and Skills

Competency #1: Knowledge of how to research, identify, and match funding resources to meet specific needs

Skill 1.2: Identify major trends in public funding and public policy

Skill 1.6: Identify fundable programs and projects for specific organization

Skill 1.7: Determine best matches between funders and specific programs



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