MARLBORO – The submission of a strategic plan is expected to assist with funding for a municipal group whose members work to prevent substance abuse.
On Dec. 14, Marlboro Township Council members passed a resolution authorizing the strategic plan for a grant for the municipal alliance. The grant will be for fiscal year 2019 and will consist of $53,578 from the federal Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund, $40,183 in-kind (any asset other than cash) and a $13,394 cash match for a total grant of $107,156.
Business Administrator Jonathan Capp said the cash and in-kind contribution figures represent the grant match from Marlboro and consist of direct (cash) and indirect (in-kind) expenditures on behalf of the program.
The alliance is formally known as the Marlboro Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse. Members of the alliance work to spread awareness of substance abuse and seek to prevent it from occurring in the community.
According to the resolution, the Township Council has applied for funding to the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse through Monmouth County.
The resolution states that the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse established municipal alliances for the prevention of alcoholism and drug abuse in 1989 to educate and engage residents, local government and law enforcement officials, schools, nonprofit organizations, the faith community, parents, youth and other allies in efforts to prevent alcoholism and drug abuse in communities throughout New Jersey.
“The Township Council recognizes that the abuse of alcohol and drugs is a serious problem in our society amongst persons of all ages and therefore has an established municipal alliance committee,” the resolution states. “The Township Council further recognizes it is incumbent upon not only public officials, but upon the entire community to take action to prevent such abuses in our community.”