About Us

HEY! brings schools, families and communities together with support and resources to promote safe, healthy and drug-free lifestyles for Hillsboro School District youth.

Hillsboro Empowers Youth Together! (HEY!) Coalition began in 2006 within Hillsboro School District 1J, in Hillsboro Oregon, through the Communities That Care (CTC) strategic prevention planning process. The coalition was born out of the Hillsboro Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) initiative. Developing a sustainable community coalition was the priority strategy selected by the Hillsboro SS/HS planning team to address youth alcohol and drug prevention in the greater Hillsboro community.

The coalition decided it was time to expand their reach and their effort.  In October of 2008 the coalition was awarded a Drug Free Communities grant from the White House Office of Drug Control Policy.  Below is an excerpt from the DFC home page.

On June 27, 1997, the Drug Free Communities Act of 1997 (PDF) became law. This Act is a catalyst for increased citizen participation in efforts to reduce substance use among youth, and it provides community anti-drug coalitions with much-needed funds to carry out their important missions.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) directs the Drug Free Communities Support Program in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This anti-drug program provides grants of up to $125,000 to community coalitions that mobilize their communities to prevent youth alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug, and inhalant abuse.

The grants support coalitions of youth; parents; media; law enforcement; school officials; faith-based organizations; fraternal organizations; State, local, and tribal government agencies; healthcare professionals; and other community representatives. The Drug Free Communities Support Program enables the coalitions to strengthen their coordination and prevention efforts, encourage citizen participation in substance abuse reduction efforts, and disseminate information about effective programs.

Drug Free Communities Act of 1997 (PDF)