About the C.A.R.E. Coalition

We envision a healthy, vibrant Transylvania County, free of substance abuse & underage drinking.

What started as a small group of concerned community members representing several sectors across the county, has grown into a large coalition with 75+ members and partners committed to reducing substance use and empowering youth in Transylvania County.

Over the past 6 years of funding, the coalition has and continues to work to change community norms, reduce access and availability of drugs and alcohol, promote recovery, and reduce harm.

The “real” work of the coalition is done in workgroups that focus on underage drinking, opiates, nicotine, community collaboration, and youth. These workgroups focus on implementing evidence-based strategies to raise awareness of substance misuse and underage drinking, build protective factors for youth, and change policies and environments in Transylvania County.

The CARE Coalition is supported by paid staff but is advised and relies heavily on the decisions and work of its members. These members are representatives from throughout the community, including these 12 key sectors:

  • Youth
  • Parents
  • Business Community
  • Media
  • School
  • Youth Serving Organizations
  • Law Enforcement
  • Substance Misuse Organizations
  • Healthcare
  • Civic and Volunteer Groups
  • Religious and Fraternal Organizations
DFC Grant

The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant is the C.A.R.E. Coalition’s main source of funding and the main driving force behind the work that we do. The DFC grant can be granted for a total of ten years but is separated into years 1-5 and years 6-10. Coalitions are required to reapply for years 6-10 to be able to continue their work. In 2019, the C.A.R.E. Coalition was awarded years 6-10 of the grant, $125,000 per year, to continue the coalition’s work on substance misuse prevention among Brevard-area youth through 2024!

STOP Grant

Received in 2016, the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act grant (STOP) is another grant designed to support DFC recipients in their community work. STOP has allowed the C.A.R.E. Coalition to expand our prevention work with underage drinking among college-aged students.

CARA Grant

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) was received in 2018, as additional support for coalitions operating under the Drug-Free Communities grant. This grant allowed for an expansion of our prevention work to include prescription drug misuse and overdose. 

ABC Board Funding

Our local ABC Board in Transylvania County generously gives to the C.A.R.E. Coalition as a source of ongoing support for our youth coalition, TAFFY.

Ann Wolfe Grant

The Ann Wolfe grant supports the coalition in promoting healthy youth by educating and supporting parents. C.A.R.E. has been able to use this money to support the Family Dinner Series, a free series in both Brevard and Rosman that focus on a variety of topics centered around the family.

UNC School of Government Opioid Response Project

In 2018, Transylvania County was one of 10 NC counties selected to receive support from UNC School of Government to combat local issues surrounding opioid misuse. Guided by the C.A.R.E. Coalition, the Transylvania Opioid Response Team was formed to convene local leaders to address the opioid crisis.

X