Community help needed to save local program

Fort Frances Times LTD.
By Paige Desmond, Staff writer
Monday, November 24, 2008

FORT FRANCES—The Rainy River District Substance Abuse Prevention Team needs community help to secure funding so it is not forced to shut down in March.
Falling under the umbrella of FOCUS Community Projects, the local SAPT and the 21 other sites across the province have been working off the budgets they were awarded in 1998—a total of $2.4 million distributed amongst the 22 sites.
The SAPT also has worked diligently to secure partnerships within the community.
The initial funding cycle ended March 31, 2008 but FOCUS was granted a one-year extension while the future of the projects were discussed.
SAPT co-ordinator Hugh Dennis is hoping community support will help it secure funding beyond the March, 2009 end date.
“It doesn’t make any sense to me that it wouldn’t be re-funded,” Dennis said, describing how much help the SAPT has been in this community where addictions and other drug- and alcohol-related issues have arisen.
With the goal of awareness and the prevention of injury and harm related to drugs and alcohol, Dennis credited the program’s merits.
“Prevention is far more economical than treatment after,” he stressed.
While FOCUS Community Projects awaits an answer on its future, Dennis and the other sites are securing letters of support from community partners, as well as encouraging residents to write personal letters to Health Promotion minister Margarett Best.
As well, a petition is available for residents to sign as a show of support of SAPT’s importance to the community.
If funding is not secured, the Substance Abuse Prevention Team will cease to exist, Dennis warned.
And to Dennis, the end to the program will be a major community loss. “It means a gap in education and awareness of drugs and alcohol,” he remarked.
To sign the petition or get more information on how to support the local SAPT, call 274-9827 and ask for Dennis.
The petition must be collected by Tuesday