A new substance misuse prevention initiative is expanding into Northwest Georgia, and organizers are seeking local partners in Chattooga and Walker counties.

The Partners in Prevention Project 2.0 is led by HEARTS for Families, an organization with more than 30 years of experience in substance misuse prevention, underage drinking prevention, parent education, family strengthening, and community-based prevention strategies.

The program is designed to serve high-need and underserved communities identified by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Those areas include Walker, Chattooga, Habersham, White, Screven, Burke, Bacon, Appling, Butts, and Pike counties.

Organizers say many rural communities continue to face concerns involving underage drinking, misuse of prescription medications, early exposure to substance use, and unsafe storage of alcohol and medications in the home. The project will focus on prevention through education, parent involvement, youth programming, and community-wide outreach.

Planned activities include community education events, prevention campaigns with guest speakers and panel discussions, youth programming in schools and recreation centers, parent workshops, collaboration with law enforcement and schools, and distribution of medication lock bags, prevention materials, and Quitline tobacco cessation resources.

HEARTS for Families is seeking support from schools, law enforcement agencies, Family Connection groups, healthcare providers, faith-based organizations, and youth-serving organizations. Partnership opportunities include letters of support, referral partnerships, program collaboration, event hosting, outreach assistance, and SAFE HOMES pledge campaigns.

The proposed launch date for Partners in Prevention Project 2.0 is October 1, 2026.

For more information or to get involved, contact Sue Laney at Slaney@HEARTSforFamilies.org or 404-406-4318, or Audrey Wilkes at AudreyJ@HEARTSforFamilies.org or 706-424-5110. HEARTS for Families is located at 28 Industrial Blvd., Suite 105, Cleveland, GA 30528 and can also be reached at 770-972-3664.