Campbell United Anti-drug coalition continues to grow

Individuals invested in making Campbell County a drug-free community

TOP PHOTO: Campbell United, the county’s anti-drug coalition continues to grow and has big plans for 2025 with youth outreach and more. Campbell United Director Charlsa Honeycutt in pictured in the forefront of this photo from Thursday’s meeting.

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Campbell United, Campbell County’s anti-drug coalition, continues to gain momentum and is growing its community support, with plans for more events and more outreach in 2025.

The coalition met on Thursday at noon at TCAT Jacksboro, going over accomplishments from its first year of being re-established and announcing goals for 2025. The meeting room was packed with individuals invested in making Campbell County a drug-free community.

Coalition Assistant Director Kaylee Queener gave a presentation on accomplishments and events that Campbell United participated in or hosted over the past year. These included hosting monthly meetings, drug take back events, community resource fairs, meetings with elected officials, diaper drives, and participating in other community events like National Night Out.

One of Campbell County’s drug coalition’s biggest achievements of the year was to receive $50,000 in grant funds to use for the Correctional Career Pathways program, a program which is “hopefully” soon to be underway in the county.

 Correctional Career Pathways “gives current inmates the ability to obtain employment with a local company,” according to Coffey, who said the grant would be of great benefit to the county.

“The program provides funds to obtain Photo ID, Birth Certificate, and Social Security Card, all of which are required to obtain a job, Fines, fees, cost, restitution, and child support are paid monthly in hopes that the participant comes out of jail debt free with a current Job,” Coffey said.

The Correctional Career Pathways program also “assists in setting up a bank account and a savings account for the individual and provides job skills training and mental health support services.”

The grant is being provided through the East Tennessee State University’s Tennessee Institute of Public Health through a federal grant provided through the Appalachian Reginal Commission (ARC.)

Future events planned for the coalition include “perhaps a panel discussion and to also start working with school visits and getting back in the schools,” according to Coalition Director Charlsa Honeycutt and coalition co-organizer Trent Coffey.

Assistant Director Kaylee Queener said the coalition was “trying to get our Facebook page to grow as much as possible” and asked those interested to “check it out and invite friends.” Currently the coalition ‘s page has over 700 followers.

“Get the word out even more and share. Grant requirements are likes and shares on Facebook, it shows our organization is growing,” Coffey said.

According to organizers, the first year of the coalition “was about building capacity and building relationships.”

Coffey discussed goals to work on for 2025. A big goal for the year is youth engagement and school outreach, as well as outreach to youth groups through area churches. Drug prevention at a young age is the goal.

Other goals include “providing and identifying resources for individuals with addiction and connecting them to those services as well as listing those services so people are aware,” Coffey said.

He also reported to those at the meeting that he had hired a nation Grant writer and that the state of TN paid for that. The hope is to apply for the Drug Free Community Grant, which is a large $125,000 a year for five years recurring grant. This grant is “currently on hold” according to Coffey, but he said the coalition should continue to prepare for applying for it and other grants by “shoring up their sectors.”

These are the 12 sectors that must be involved for the coalition to apply for the drug free community Grant. The idea is based around “local problems require local solutions” and therefore require the involvement of local sectors including parents, youth, local businesses, media, schools, youth serving organizations, law enforcement, civic volunteer organizations, religious/fraternal organizations, healthcare professionals, state and local government, and substance abuse organizations.

“They all have to connect. We pull it all together and all the people come together. If we communicate, we can help and services to the families that need it,” Coffey said, adding that the coalition didn’t want to “go in and manage any of these programs”, but rather “tap into what they are doing and help them all connect to make a difference.”

At the close of the meeting, he gave an update on the Correctional Career Pathways Program that provides inmates from jail an opportunity to go into the workforce.

“I’ve worked with the District Attorney and the sheriff and hope to get this going soon.” Coffey said. The coalition is still in the process of identifying area factories that would participate in the program and take on the four inmates, which is the number that is going to participate in the program’s startup.

“We are looking for factories or workplaces close to the jail to take part in this. Each inmate participating in the program will get their birth certificate, their photo ID, and have the required documentation to get a job. Inmates have a strict set of responsibilities, and they wear an ankle monitor, that they pay for themselves after they start making wages. Their obligation is we take a flat fee of 10% to sustain the program so it can grow,” Coffey said.

The Correctional Career Pathways Program grant process was competitive, and Campbell County was one of three chosen and received the max amount of $50,000. Counties eligible to apply for the grant included Bledsoe, Campbell, Clay, Cocke, Fentress, Grundy, Hancock, Jackson, Morgan, Scott and Van Buren.

“These types of programs make a difference…We want to change poverty mindsets and change generational addiction, this creates workforce and is successful,” Coffey said.

For more information about getting involved, contact Campbell United Director Charlsa Honeycutt at 423.907.2908, or via email at chuckih59@yahoo.com. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-02/18/2025-6AM)