Technical assistance and direction for the Free to Grow program

The Foundation's program, Free To Grow: Head Start Partnerships to Promote Substance-Free Communities, was designed to support selected Head Start agencies to adapt and evaluate innovative substance abuse prevention models that aim to strengthen a young child's environment, specifically the family and community.In April 2000, $8 million to establish a public/private funding partnership between the Free to Grow National Program Office (NPO) and the federal government was authorized to launch a four-year national demonstration to build upon the successful development of models implemented during the pilot phase of the program. In June 2002, 15 grantees were awarded three-year implementation funding. In addition, a rigorous process and outcome evaluation is a key component of the national demonstration. The program is now structured as a public/private funding partnership among the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation ($1.4 million), and the U.S. Department of Justice ($1 million). In November 2002, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation's Board of Trustees committed an additional two years of program and technical assistance funding totaling $1,476,625. Funds under this project will support technical assistance activities for the achievement of implementation benchmarks, training of trainers in Free to Grow core competencies, and special meetings of Head Start agency leaders and school partners to enhance their engagement and build buy-in for sustainability of the initiative.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $1,392,837.00

Awarded on: 1/23/2003

Time frame: 3/1/2003 - 2/29/2004

Grant Number: 45233