City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 2, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: KATE GARVEY, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Grant Application and Acceptance of Funds awarded from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for the Strategic Prevention Framework-Partnerships for Success for Communities and Tribes Grant.
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ISSUE: City Council’s authorization of the application and acceptance of funds awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant award for the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA), housed within Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), to expand and strengthen prevention capacity to deliver evidence-based youth substance use prevention services and enhance coordination infrastructure to sustain these efforts. DCHS is the fiscal agent for this grant.
RECOMMENDATIONS: That City Council:
Authorize the application and accept the five-year grant award issued on August 24, 2026, in the amount of $1,250,000 with no match required, to fund the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) in expanding and strengthening its capacity to deliver evidence-based youth substance use prevention programming and enhancing its coordination infrastructure to sustain this work in the City of Alexandria.
Approve the following positions supported by grant revenues if the competitive request is successful: one Data Analyst (1 FTE) to oversee performance assessment and evaluation activities and one Prevention Specialist (1 FTE) to support the delivery and expansion of evidence-based prevention programming.
Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required to accept the grant award.
BACKGROUND: The ...
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