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The Leavenworth County Commission approved a list of grant requests Thursday aimed at curbing drug and alcohol abuse in the county.
The list comes from the Leavenworth City/County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council, which meets to consider annual grant proposals for program targeting substance abuse.
The funds that the council awards for those programs are derived from alcohol sales in the county that are used for two purposes — one is a special parks and recreation fund, the other is the LCCADAC’s grant program. Leavenworth County Clerk Janet Klasinski said the county commission has ultimate control over both funds.
Pat Barnhardt, a member of the council, said the council decided to award $19,800 in funding this year, as opposed to $16,700 awarded the year before.
“This is up some but we’re finding a lot of these groups are struggling in this type of economy and we’re going to try to support them now and maybe back down in the future when things get better,” she said.
The projects funded include mostly post-graduation parties at the county’s high schools organized specifically as drug- and alcohol-free events. Barnhardt, asked about different funding levels for the different schools, said the council has considered how well the graduation parties fit in with the council’s mission.
“They’re not really educational, but they do keep the kids safe,” and some items are given away during the events that espouse a drug-free message, Barnhardt said.
She also said the different funding levels were based on the number of seniors at each school and the total budget for the event.
The two other projects funded by the council are drug prevention programs that will feature direct education of young people on the dangers of substance abuse, Barnhardt said.
Though the amount funded under each grant is up this year, Barnhardt said the council has still been prudent.
“Our idea is to always keep about three years out so if no more money comes into this fund, we can still operate for three years,” she said.
Klasinski said there is currently $79,525 in the special alcohol fund, including the special parks and recreation fund. In 2010, the fund took in about $15,500.
“As far as I know this is not a fund that has been cut from any proceeds that will coming down from the state,” she said.
The commission approved the grants.
The Leavenworth County Commission approved a list of grant requests Thursday aimed at curbing drug and alcohol abuse in the county.
The list comes from the Leavenworth City/County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council, which meets to consider annual grant proposals for program targeting substance abuse.
The funds that the council awards for those programs are derived from alcohol sales in the county that are used for two purposes — one is a special parks and recreation fund, the other is the LCCADAC’s grant program. Leavenworth County Clerk Janet Klasinski said the county commission has ultimate control over both funds.
Pat Barnhardt, a member of the council, said the council decided to award $19,800 in funding this year, as opposed to $16,700 awarded the year before.
“This is up some but we’re finding a lot of these groups are struggling in this type of economy and we’re going to try to support them now and maybe back down in the future when things get better,” she said.
The projects funded include mostly post-graduation parties at the county’s high schools organized specifically as drug- and alcohol-free events. Barnhardt, asked about different funding levels for the different schools, said the council has considered how well the graduation parties fit in with the council’s mission.
“They’re not really educational, but they do keep the kids safe,” and some items are given away during the events that espouse a drug-free message, Barnhardt said.
She also said the different funding levels were based on the number of seniors at each school and the total budget for the event.
The two other projects funded by the council are drug prevention programs that will feature direct education of young people on the dangers of substance abuse, Barnhardt said.
Though the amount funded under each grant is up this year, Barnhardt said the council has still been prudent.
“Our idea is to always keep about three years out so if no more money comes into this fund, we can still operate for three years,” she said.
Klasinski said there is currently $79,525 in the special alcohol fund, including the special parks and recreation fund. In 2010, the fund took in about $15,500.
“As far as I know this is not a fund that has been cut from any proceeds that will coming down from the state,” she said.
The commission approved the grants.
