The Enumclaw Regional Healthcare Foundation leaped over its first hurdle in applying for a coveted federal Drug Free Community Grant when it recently received a $48,589 Catholic Health Initiatives grant.

It’s the organization’s first grant and Foundation President Kaylee Garrett gave thanks to the Franciscan Health System, which helped and guided them in the process.

“Since this was our first grant application we are very thankful to the Franciscan Health System organization,” Garrett said.

The Drug Free Community Grant has the potential to bring up to $125,000 a year into the community for a number of years. Money that would be used to reduce substance abuse among youth in the community. The grant is part of the 1997 Drug Free Community Act. To date, 750 communities across the country have been awarded DFC grants.

Foundation Executive Director Rene Popke said the CHI grant will allow the Foundation to hire a part-time staff member to supervise the effort and put programs in place for the larger grant.

Part of the process is fleshing out a Drug and Alcohol Coalition made up of a broad spectrum of community members. The coalition will dovetail into the group’s drug and alcohol task force which is already in existence.

In order for this to be successsful we have to have the community on board, Garrett said.

“We have to have the community agree to participate,” she added. “They all have to be stakeholders and willing to give their time and to work.”

Popke said the DFC grant is due in early March with awards handed out in August 2012.