For Immediate Release: September 7, 2012
Media Contact:
April Putzulu, Communications Manager
P (727) 461-1236 / Ext. 3331
C (727) 215-7068
E aputzulu@eckerd.org
CLEARWATER, FL – The Florida Department of Children and Families recently announced that Eckerd has been selected to receive three Prevention Partnership Grants for school-based prevention services to Florida students. Two of the grants will provide funding for the continuation of Eckerd Hi-Five school-based prevention services in Brevard and Citrus counties, while the third grant will allow the expansion of these services to Hernando County.
Specifically, the funds will allow Eckerd to provide school-based character education, substance abuse prevention and violence prevention as follows:
- In Brevard County, Eckerd will serve approximately 650 students, grades 3rd through 5th, at Endeavour and Apollo Elementary Schools utilizing the evidence-based Second Step curriculum;
- In Citrus County, Eckerd will serve approximately 650 sixth grade students at Lecanto and Inverness Middle Schools utilizing the evidence-based Too Good for Drugs curriculum; and
- In Hernando County, Eckerd will serve approximately 650 sixth grade students at Powell and Parrott Middle Schools utilizing the evidence-based Too Good for Drugs curriculum.
Eckerd will also be partnering with each community’s anti-drug coalitions to implement substance abuse prevention strategies. These three contracts, totaling $340K, are slated to begin October 1st, will continue for three years, and will ensure students in these three Florida counties continue to receive the much-needed second chances they deserve.
