Local EP Prevention Coalition Receives Coalition of the Year

East Providence Prevention Coalition received the 2023 Blue Ribbon Award for the Coalition of the Year from CADCA, the nation’s leading substance use prevention organization. Sponsored by CADCA’s National Coalition Institute with funding from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, this initiative gives coalitions the opportunity to receive national recognition for their contributions to community-level substance abuse outcomes. East Providence Prevention Coalition will receive this prestigious award on January 30th during CADCA’s 2024 National Leadership Forum at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

“On behalf of the EPPC and the East Providence community, we are honored to accept CADCA'S highest recognition of Coalition of the Year for achieving and demonstrating positive outcomes in reducing substance use among East Providence youth” said EPPC Director Madeline Marlow. “In expressing gratitude, the EPPC would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to all our community partners who have joined the effort in the EPPC'S mission in promoting healthy lifestyles for East Providence residents. Working with a coalition can be both powerful and challenging, and this award acknowledges the unwavering dedication of the community and the EPPC team while validating our commitment to creating positive change and fostering collaboration in addressing the challenges we face. This award shows that prevention works, and it also energizes us to continue our mission of building a healthier and safer community for all.”To achieve success, coalitions must determine effective solutions to substance misuse in their community.

EPPC has worked hard to collaborate with community partners and over a six-year period has reduced youth thirty-day cannabis use by over 10% and increased both peer disapproval and youth perception of risk associated with cannabis use by over 20%. These outcomes are results of providing evidence-based programs in the schools, the creation of the East Providence Youth Council (EPYC) and a multitude of activities that the Coalition implements throughout the community.
“We congratulate East Providence Prevention Coalition on their outstanding work and for being exemplary leaders in the field of substance misuse prevention. East Providence Prevention Coalition clearly embraced the CADCA model of prevention, and their commitment has led to positive sustainable outcomes within their community. Our CADCA Blue Ribbon Coalition Award winners exemplify the excellent work that coalitions are doing around the country to prevent and reduce substance use and misuse in their communities,” said General Barrye L. Price, CADCA’s President and CEO.

"On behalf of the City of East Providence, we congratulate the East Providence Prevention Coalition on this amazing recognition,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “We are thrilled that CADCA has recognized the hard work and dedication that this group has put forth in working with your local youth here in our great city. EPPC provides valuable resources to not only our youth, but the community as a whole.”

East Providence Prevention Coalition was founded in 1987 in East Providence, RI with a mission to promote healthy lifestyles for all the city’s residents and to reduce substance misuse among all age levels, with a strong focus on prevention and mental health promotion for our youth.

About CADCA
The mission of CADCA is to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions to create and maintain safe, healthy and drug-free communities globally. This is accomplished by providing technical assistance and training, public policy advocacy, media strategies and marketing programs, training and special events.

About ONDCP
A component of the Executive Office of the President, ONDCP leads and coordinates the implementation of the Nation’s drug control policy so that it improves the health and lives of the American people. ONDCP establishes policies, priorities, and objectives for the Nation’s drug programs and ensures that adequate resources are dedicated and coordinated to implement them. ONDCP is also responsible for the development and implementation of the National Drug Control Strategy and Budget. ONDCP coordinates with 19 federal agencies and oversees a $44 billion budget as part of a whole-of-government approach to addressing addiction and the overdose epidemic. ONDCP also allocates hundreds of millions of dollars to help communities stay healthy and safe through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and the Drug-Free Communities Program.

About the DFC Program
The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program, created by the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997, is the Nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent youth substance use. Directed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the DFC Program provides grants to community coalitions to strengthen the infrastructure among local partners to prevent and reduce youth substance use.