In order to be considered for state funding, community coalitions must register with the Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) on an annual basis. This funding includes mini-grants, Regional Development Funds, training and technical assistance funds, and any other funds that DBH supports.
Each existing or newly formed coalition should contact their Regional Support Center to initiate the registration process. The Regional Support Center will provide the required application and assist them with completing it. Coalitions must provide supporting documentation of their operations. Electronic documentation is desired; however, paper records are acceptable.
Regional Support Centers will forward the complete registration application to DBH. Regional Support Centers will also be asked to report any changes in the status of their community coalitions to DBH.
Community Coalition Requirements:
- Community coalitions shall have a mission, purpose and clearly defined goals with action objectives that relate to substance abuse prevention.
- Community coalitions shall have clearly defined issues to address which relate to ATOD.
- Community coalitions shall have existing membership lists, which shall include a minimum of five (5) representatives from any of the following groups; parents, youth, social services, public health departments, health facilities, schools k-12, colleges and universities in the community, law enforcement, faith community, media, local ethnic groups, civic or neighborhood programs, demographic representatives, business and civic leaders, elected officials, and concerned citizens.
- Community coalitions shall have an established meeting schedule with documentation of attendance records and meeting minutes. Newly formed coalitions may submit their existing meeting schedule and minutes from their period of origination.
- Community coalitions shall be expected to meet, at the minimum, on a quarterly basis.
- Community coalitions shall demonstrate a working relationship with their Regional Support Center to strengthen their service capacity and their effective utilization of existing community resources.
- Community groups that do not meet the specified criteria will be notified in writing within 14 days of receipt of application that they will not be entered into the registry.
