Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program NEW (Year 1)

The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program – New (Year 1), administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through its National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), represents a critical national effort to combat youth substance use. Funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the DFC Support Program was established by the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 to reduce youth substance abuse through broad community collaboration. This funding opportunity, identified as CDC-RFA-CE-26-0061, is open to new applicants only—specifically community-based coalitions that have not previously received DFC funding. The program emphasizes the development and sustainability of local coalitions to address youth substance use at the community level using evidence-based strategies aligned with national public health goals. The primary objective of this funding opportunity is twofold: first, to foster and strengthen collaboration among local communities, public and private nonprofit agencies, and all levels of government to support coalitions; and second, to reduce substance use among youth (individuals aged 18 or younger) and eventually among adults by addressing risk and protective factors in the community. Awardees are expected to implement comprehensive, multi-sectoral approaches that prevent youth substance use through education, environmental changes, access to supportive services, and policy interventions. Strategies may include providing educational materials, skill-building workshops, creating support networks for youth, improving service access, altering consequences related to substance use, and advocating for relevant policy changes. Applicants must address at least two specific substances and use frameworks such as SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework. DFC grantees must comply with a wide range of statutory and administrative requirements. Key eligibility criteria include having a coalition comprised of representatives from 12 required sectors (e.g., youth, parents, law enforcement, schools), a mission focused on preventing youth substance use, and a demonstrated history of collaborative work. Coalitions must not have received more than 10 years of prior DFC funding, must secure a 100% non-federal match for each award year, and must be able to participate in a national evaluation effort. Required documentation includes meeting minutes, sector representation tables, general applicant and legal eligibility information, and in some cases, memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with fiscal agents. If applying via a fiscal agent, the agent must be located in the same state and may not serve multiple coalitions. The total estimated program funding is $31.25 million, with up to 50 grants expected to be awarded in 2026. Each grant provides up to $125,000 annually, and the period of performance is five years (administered in 12-month increments). Matching funds—equal to 100% of the federal award—may be contributed in cash or in-kind, including services, office space, volunteer time, or other non-federally funded support. Opioid settlement funds may be used as matching resources. Federal funds, including those passed through states, may not be used as match. Grant funds may not be used for research, stipends, harm reduction supplies, furniture, or lobbying, among other restrictions. Up to 10% of the award may be used for data collection and evaluation. Applications are due electronically via Grants.gov no later than April 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. An informational webinar will be held on March 18, 2026. Applicants must be registered with SAM.gov and Grants.gov and are encouraged to confirm all registration requirements in advance. Required application components include a project narrative, 12-month action plan, evaluation plan, and a budget narrative, along with a series of attachments such as the sector table, legal eligibility documents, and resumes or job descriptions for key staff. The application will be reviewed in several phases, including responsiveness screening, merit review based on a 100-point scoring rubric, and risk assessment. Awards are expected to be announced by August 28, 2026, with the project period starting on September 30, 2026. Following award, grantees are expected to comply with detailed post-award monitoring and reporting requirements, including participation in the DFC National Cross-Site Evaluation, submission of annual progress and financial reports, development of data management plans, and participation in mandatory training programs. These include the New Recipient Virtual Training and the National Coalition Institute Training Program. Grantees must demonstrate measurable progress on short-term, intermediate, and long-term outcomes related to youth substance use prevention, including metrics such as 30-day use rates and perceptions of risk or disapproval among youth. This program is a cornerstone in the federal strategy to prevent youth drug use and strengthen community capacity for sustained prevention efforts.

Ensure coalition has 12 sectors represented; Follow SMART formatting; Link strategies directly to measurable outcomes; Align with required performance metrics.