CARA ACT Comprehensive Addition and Recovery Act of 2016

Grants awarded through the CARA Act are intended as an enhancement to current or formerly funded Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grant award recipients as established community-based youth substance use prevention coalitions capable of effecting community-level change. For the purposes of the DFC Support Program, a coalition is defined as a community-based formal arrangement for cooperation and collaboration among groups or sectors of a community in which each group retains its identity, but all agree to work together toward a common goal of building a safe, healthy, and drug-free community. CARA grant award recipients, also referred to as “recipients,” are expected to conduct the day-to-day operations of the grant program. CARA recipients are not permitted to serve as a conduit for CARA funds passing through them or to another agency. Coalitions receiving CARA Act funds, as current or formerly funded DFC recipients, are expected to work with leaders in their communities to identify and address local youth opioid, methamphetamine, and/or prescription medication abuse and create sustainable community-level change. Additionally, recipients are expected to implement comprehensive community-wide strategies.