This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Reston Community Coalition Loses Funding

Group promoting safe and drug-free community for youth needs support.

Keeping Reston will be tougher in 2010-2011 as a result of federal and local budget cutbacks.

The Reston Community Coalition, a community–school partnership established in 1995, organizes annual programs aimed at helping young people stay alcohol- and drug-free, prevent bullying, and learn peaceful conflict-resolution skills. Reston has sister coalitions across Fairfax County.

The Coalition's funding was a modest-but-necessary $3,500; now even that has dried up.  

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 Diane Eckert, prevention resource specialist with Fairfax County Public Schools explained,"the Reston Coalition got cut in two ways. The coalition was funded by the Safe and Drug Free School and Communities Funds, a federal program out of the Department of Education. This program lost federal funding so it was cut 100 percent across the school system. Then the school system cut local stipends for the community coordinators."

Without the funds, some area coalitions are disbanding, some are curtailing programs. But the Reston Coalition is striving to continue its work.

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Melinda Rivas, parent liaison at , served as Reston Community Coalition coordinator for the past two years. She plans to continue her service to the coalition on a voluntary basis. She will donate her time to staff the Coalition, but the costs associated with running the actual programs will need new funding sources.

"We will need to ask for other funding from the community, the PTA; it's a tough time," said Rivas.

County-wide the coalitions are scrambling to salvage their programs.  Lisa Lombardozzi, of the , says "one option on the table is the Fairfax County Government will absorb the Coalitions and the umbrella organization."

Programs historically supported by the Reston Community Coalition include: South Lakes All Night Graduation Party, Peace Week, Project Sticker Shock, Red Ribbon Week, Before and After Prom Notes, and George Mason Peer Mediation Conference participation by Reston students.

Reston Community coalition members include representatives from Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgin's office; school resource officers from South Lakes and Hughes; staffers from Fairfax County Department of Family Services and the Community Service Board; PTA presidents, and other school parent liaisons.

 "The coalition is definitely impacted by the funding cuts. It's a loss for the community. But we will keep it going with help," said Rivas.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?