The Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund -- At a Glance

In response to the rising level of problematic substance use in Canada, the federal government renewed its commitment to Canada's Drug Strategy in 2003. As part of its five-year action plan, Health Canada launched the Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund (DSCIF) in April 2004.

The Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund aims to tackle problematic substance use on two key fronts: (1) Promotion and Prevention and (2) Harm Reduction. Within these two funding areas, eligible applicants can include: not-for-profit health organizations, educational institutions, business associations, charitable groups, and off-reserve Aboriginal groups, among others. Proposals may embrace a wide range of projects and activities, and must conform to eligibility requirements.

Examples of projects that would fall under the theme of Promotion and Prevention are: public information campaigns, life skills training, promoting healthy lifestyles and productive behaviours, and discouraging problematic substance use in the first place, among others.

The Harm Reduction component may include such activities as: outreach, pilot projects, setting up peer support networks and awareness programs on injection drug use.

Proposals reflecting a "countrywide" mandate or scope of activity will be processed through the national funding component at Health Canada's Ottawa headquarters. Applications covering projects with a provincial/territorial or local scope will be processed through the regional funding component. Health Canada offices are located in Halifax, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver.

How You Can Get More Information

For more information about the Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund (including the application process), and how you can play a part in its success story, please refer to Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund - Funding Guidelines. If you wish to receive details by post, please write to the following address: Community Initiatives Division, Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Programme, Health Canada, 123 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9.