Campbell United receives $64,000 grant

Campbell United organizer Trent Coffey with the STAND in Scott County, left and Scott County’s anti-drug coalition youth director Vickie Jones discussed building youth engagement during Thursday’s meeting held at TCAT Jacksboro.

By Charlotte Underwood 

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Campbell United, Campbell County’s re-established anti-drug coalition has received a $64,000 state grant to be used for Marijuana education and prevention programs, according to coalition organizers Trent Coffey and Catherine Brunson.

The coalition met on Thursday at noon at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Jacksboro Campus and made the exciting announcement about the State Coalition Marijuana Prevention grant. 

Around 30 community leaders and invested individuals were at the meeting as Campbell County’s anti-drug coalition continues to grow. 

According to Catherine Brunson with Prevention Alliance, the state grant will primarily focus on prevention and education of the county’s youth and will specifically target ages 12 to 17.

Organizers said these funds will be an investment in community youth engagement.

“The goal is to not only reduce the use of drugs by youth, but prevent them from starting in the first place,” Brunson said.

“Funds from the grant will go towards being a support and resource for area schools to help them with drug education and prevention programs,” Coffey said.

During Thursday’s meeting, coalition members also heard from Scott County’s anti-drug coalition Youth Director Vickie Jones.

She spoke about the importance of “partnering with schools” to build student engagement in the drug coalition. She gave a discussion on how to build youth engagement and discussed several programs that have worked in Scott County.

According to coalition organizers, Campbell United will be working with the schools in the near future to utilize the state grant on marijuana prevention and education.

For those interested in more information about the Campbell United anti-drug coalition, contact Director Charlsa Honeycutt at 423.907.2908. Meetings are held at TCAT Jacksboro, located at 265 Elkins Road. The next Campbell United meeting is Thursday, September 12^th at 11:30 at TCAT/Jacksboro. Meetings usually last one hour, but this meeting will be 1.5 hours “for development and Mission Statement discussion.” Organizers encourage “community leaders, nonprofits, organizations, and others to join and to bring friend along!” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-08/09/2024-6AM)