Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program COMPETING CONTINUATION (Year 6)

The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program – Competing Continuation (Year 6), issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on behalf of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), is designed to sustain the critical work of community coalitions focused on reducing substance use among youth. The DFC program originated under the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 and aims to bolster long-term community-level prevention efforts through multi-sector collaborations. This continuation funding opportunity is intended for coalitions that have completed a previous five-year funding cycle or experienced a lapse in funding and are now seeking to reengage for an additional five-year term. The program centers on two statutory goals: first, to establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, public and private non-profit agencies, and governmental entities to prevent youth substance use; and second, to reduce substance use among youth and ultimately adults by addressing risk and protective factors in local environments. Coalitions must focus on reducing use of at least two substances, chosen based on local needs assessments, with allowable strategies including skill-building, information dissemination, modifying access and availability, and systems improvement. The seven permitted strategies are designed to foster long-term change, from public education to structural interventions such as modifying community design or supporting policy reforms. Funding for the DFC program will be delivered as grants of up to $125,000 annually over five years, with an estimated 50 awards to be made. A key requirement is a non-federal match beginning at 100% of the federal share in year six and increasing in later years, which may be satisfied through cash or in-kind contributions, including volunteer hours or donated services. Use of opioid settlement funds is explicitly permitted to fulfill the matching requirement, provided legal restrictions are observed. However, DFC funds may not be used for certain activities such as research, clinical care, furniture purchases, or harm-reduction services like Naloxone or syringe exchange programs. Eligible applicants include community-based coalitions with 501(c)(3) status or those working with a fiscal agent able to receive federal funds. The applying coalition must demonstrate a track record of collaboration, including active involvement from representatives of 12 specific community sectors (e.g., law enforcement, education, youth-serving organizations, healthcare, media, and parents). Additional eligibility criteria include having a primary mission focused on youth substance use prevention, not overlapping with another funded coalition without formal cooperation, and having received no more than 10 years of DFC funding to date. Applications are due April 14, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, and must be submitted through Grants.gov. Required documents include a project narrative, work plan, detailed budget, and evidence of coalition structure and eligibility. Applicants must also participate in the DFC National Cross-Site Evaluation, collecting and reporting standardized measures every two years. An informational webinar for interested applicants will be held on March 19, 2026. Notification of award decisions is anticipated by August 28, 2026, with funded projects beginning September 30, 2026. This funding opportunity is recurring and will be offered annually. The CDC will provide ongoing support, including evaluation tools, performance monitoring, and technical assistance. The main contact for this NOFO is Christi Jones ([email protected]), and the official NOFO PDF is available via Grants.gov under the opportunity number CDC-RFA-CE21-210206CONT26.

Use SMART objectives; avoid ZIP overlap; ensure full 12-sector representation; no use of funds for research, Naloxone, or sports stipends.