The Office of National Drug Control Policy's (ONDCP) Above the Influence Campaign hit the one million mark on Facebook, which is a testament to how teens have embraced this campaign. ATI recently won the Silver Effie Award for its work. Unfortunately, bad news came on the heels of these major successes as Congress cut funding to the national Above the Influence Campaign totaling nearly 14 million dollars.  This funding cut was effective immediately and has a ripple impact on youth across the nation and world!

As a community anti-drug coalition, the Kent County Prevention Coalition (KCPC) achieves its mission through people, partnerships and passion.  The adage, Engaging an entire village to relieve a local condition, parallels the KCPC's leadership and public health approach to preventing and reducing underage substance use in Kent County.

This loss of funding definitely impacts Kent County youth at the local level.  The national ATI media campaign of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy has wholeheartedly supported the work of the KCPC and has advanced prevention efforts in West Michigan.  Resources from this partnership have supported initiatives like the 2012 KCPC ATI-Kent County Youth Summit serving nearly 700 West Michigan youth, Red Ribbon Week initiatives within Grand Rapids Public Schools, ATI-Kent County days with Kent County Probations, area faith communities, youth coalitions in Montcalm, Barry, Gratiot and Macomb Counties, community festivals and MORE!  Kent county know firsthand that PREVENTION WORKS AND ATI MATTERS!