A local non-profit agency that serves young people has received funding to develop programs for drug and alcohol education and prevention.

Arizona Youth Partnership (AzYP) was awarded two grants during August with the intention of reducing and preventing substance abuse among youth.

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety awarded AzYP almost $18,000 through the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws grant to prevent underage drinking. A media release indicates AzYP will use some of these funds to replicate the pilot alcohol and drug education prevention program Wake Up!, as well as conduct another program known as Alternative to Detention. This program targets 90 teenagers between 14 and 18 years old who have been cited or arrested for alcohol or drug-related offenses in Kingman.

AzYP also received a five-year, $100,000-per year grant from the Office of National Drug Control Policy called a Drug-Free Communities grant for its anti-drug Copper Basin Coalition in Globe.

According to the media release, these funds will help identify and respond youth substance abuse problems in that area.

AzYP served over 31,000 children, youth and families in 2006. They are only one of two organizations in Arizona that received new funding.

For more information on Arizona Youth Partnership, click here.