A Prescription for Program Sustainability: The Drug-Free Community Sustainability Model in Practice.

CONTEXT: The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program awards federal grants for up to 10 years to community coalitions aimed at reducing youth substance use across the United States. This report describes efforts for program sustainability, shares sustainability examples from DFC-funded coalitions, and describes public health impact of coalition continuity of funding and activities beyond the DFC funding period.

PROGRAM: The overarching DFC program aims to mobilize community leaders to identify and respond to substance use challenges unique to their community, as well as local community environmental factors tied to substance use.

IMPLEMENTATION: DFC coalitions follow a sustainability framework that addresses community engagement, funding, policy planning strategies, partnerships, and staff retention. Communities are encouraged to use the sustainability checklist and are required to submit a sustainability plan.

DISCUSSION: Planning for sustainability helps coalitions and their members, partners, and the greater community at large to ensure that substance use prevention efforts are poised to continue the work after DFC funding ends.

IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE: Coalition sustainability is key to maintaining the reach of DFC coalitions as they move beyond the funding period and new communities join the DFC program.