Juvenile Justice & Youth Development

Programs & Grants

Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities (SDFSC)

Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities is a federal program that provides funding for national programs and state grants.  The goal of the federal program is to reduce drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, and violence, through education and prevention initiatives in our nation's schools and communities.  

The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities program was established under Title IV of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994, and has been reauthorized under Title IV Part A of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.  For more information on the federal program, visit Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program at the U.S. Department of Education web site.

Under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, the Governor may reserve not more than 20 percent of the total amount allocated to Connecticut to award competitive grants to local educational agencies, community-based organizations, other public entities and private organizations, and consortia thereof.  For fiscal years 1999/2000 through 2002/2003, the Governor's portion of Connecticut's Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities funds has supplemented state allocations supporting Neighborhood Youth Centers in Connecticut.  For fiscal years 2003/2004 through 2006/2007, SDFSC funds were the sole funding source for the Neighborhood Youth Centers.

Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities funds have also supported the evaluation of Neighborhood Youth Centers by the University of Connecticut Center for Applied Research.  Connecticut's Office of Policy and Management commissioned the Neighborhood Youth Center Program Evaluation, published in July 2001, to assess the effectiveness of the Neighborhood Youth Center Program.  A second study was conducted by the same group to analyze process data, parent feedback through focus groups, and pre-and post- surveys of youth.  A third study -- Interactive Program Improvement Process -- was published in June 2006 and a process and outcome study of projects operating during 2005-2007 was published in October 2007.

The Neighborhood Youth Centers page contains additional information about this program including a description and background, program evaluation materials, and funding opportunities.  Grantees under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program may access reporting forms at the Grantee Reporting: Neighborhood Youth Centers page.

Funding Opportunities

This federal funding stream has ended and no additional grant awards will be made.