By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A coalition through the St. Joseph Youth Alliance has been chosen for a $625,000 federal grant that will assist in combatting youth substance abuse.
Substance Use Prevention Director Julie Wiedmer says it’s an honor to receive this grant because of how competitive it is
"A lot of applicants, so we were very grateful to be selected," Wiedmer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "It really just lets us continue the work that we've already started and gives us the funding that we need to keep doing the prevention work that's so needed in our community."
Wiedmer says the money will go towards advancing existing programs the alliance has been working on.
Wiedmer says one of those programs is in St. Joseph middle schools, showing students that there are ways to have fun and be social, without drugs.
"So we're trying to kind of get away from that social norm that you have to have drugs and alcohol to have a good time," Wiedmer explains. "So, we want to have the students plan events and parties that don't include those substances, and they can see that they can still be social, meet new friends, have a good time without that."
Wiedmer says one other initiative the alliance is working on is a Youth Prevention Summit that will bring students from each area high school to have a day of education in drug prevention within their schools.
Wiedmer says it’s important to start prevention as early as possible
"There's so much out there now, and especially with marijuana being legalizedw we want to make sure kids know that legal doesn't mean safe," Wiedmer says.
Wiedmer says the goal for youth is to show them different types of coping mechanisms
"For stress and anxiety and also have those opportunities to have fun and enjoy being a kid without all the dangers of substance use," Wiedmer explains.
Wiedmer says getting a grant like this is huge and allows them to hire someone full time to do that work, that without the federal funds the organization probably wouldn't be able to continue.
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