Press Releases

Helping Empower Youth (HEY!) Together Coalition receives over half a million in federal funds, hires new program coordinator.

Hillsboro, OR, January 29, 2009:

After two years of comprehensive community drug abuse prevention planning, the HEY! Together Coalition, a locally-based community group, was awarded a $625,000 grant from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

In applying for the grant, the HEY! Together Coalition, which serves the Hillsboro School District community – including the cities of Hillsboro, North Plains, and parts of Cornelius and Aloha in Western Washington County, OR – gathered and reviewed data to assess specific risk factors and preventative factors for youth drug and alcohol use in the community. With the area experiencing significant growth in both population and diversity over the last ten years, the risk factors for youth substance abuse has increased. The $125,000 per year grant will be used to promote science based environmental strategies for substance abuse prevention within the District, and may be renewed for an additional five years once the Coalition reaches the fourth year with demonstrable results.

The HEY! Together Coalition, comprised of community members and leaders, seeks to:

· Establish and strengthen collaboration with the greater Hillsboro community; local businesses, Chamber of Commerce, local media, private non-profit agencies, private citizen volunteers, the religious/faith community, law enforcement, healthcare organizations, the School District, Federal, State and local governments to support the efforts of HEY! Together to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth;

· Reduce substance abuse among youth by addressing the specific risk factors in the community at large.

For more information on the HEY! Together Coalition, please contact Program Coordinator Michelle Rodriguez at 503-681-5363.

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