Project Grant H79SP084423

This federal Project Grant award, in the amount of $120,000 and awarded on September 30, 2024, is provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance (CFDA 93.243) program. The grant recipient, Influence The Choice, a non-profit organization in Newcastle, Washington, will use the funding to reduce underage drinking and promote mental health among students in the Greater Issaquah School District. Key activities include establishing youth prevention clubs, providing substance use prevention education and skills training for 6th-12th grade students, conducting social media campaigns on refusal skills and anxiety reduction, hosting alcohol-free student events, and collaborating with local municipalities to enact social hosting ordinances. The project will focus on reaching LGBTQ+, Hispanic, and Asian youth populations through culturally competent, evidence-based strategies. Over the five-year project period, Influence The Choice expects to serve over 8,000 students and reach more than 5,000 community members through its prevention programming and social media campaigns.