Comwell stop - comwell, a community mental health center with 5 decades of experience in a rural area, in collaboration with the healthy communities alliance (HCA), a community-based prevention…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Comwell $240,000 on September 30, 2025, under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.243).

Comwell, a community mental health center operating in Red Bud, Illinois, will execute the COMWELL STOP project to strengthen community-level prevention capacity and reduce substance and alcohol use among youth ages 12–25 in Randolph and Washington Counties, Illinois. The project will complete the five-phase Strategic Prevention Framework process to develop a comprehensive strategic plan addressing local substance use prevention concerns in a designated rural health professional shortage area spanning 1,161 square miles with a combined population of 44,194 residents. Comwell will partner with the Healthy Communities Alliance, a community-based prevention coalition, to deliver these activities.

The award establishes measurable objectives by 2028 for youth ages 14–18: reduce 30-day alcohol use among 8th–12th graders by 3 percent, increase perceived harm risk by 3 percent, and increase perceived parental and peer disapproval by 3 percent each, all measured through student survey. Comwell estimates serving 50 people per year, 200 over the project life.

Performance occurs in Red Bud, Illinois, with a period of performance ending September 29, 2029. The assistance type is a Project Grant.

Comwell stop - comwell, a community mental health center with 5 decades of experience in a rural area, in collaboration with the healthy communities alliance (HCA), a community-based prevention coalition, seeks to advance and expand prevention strategies for youth ages 12-25 residing in communities demonstrating persistent need in randolph and washington counties in illinois, through its project (comwell stop). Randolph and washington counties are populated by a combined 44,194 residents, encompassing 1,161 square miles. This expansive area comprises small, isolated rural communities with a myriad of social and economic issues, including persistent and/or generational poverty and lack of mobility. The entire geographical service area is designated as rural by hrsa as a health professional shortage area, with the nearest metropolitan statistical area identified as the illinois sector of ST. Louis, which is 90+ miles away. Comwell will strengthen community-level prevention capacity to identify and address local substance use prevention concerns by completing the 5-phase strategic prevention framework process which will result in the creation of a comprehensive strategic plan to reduce the onset and progression of substance alcohol use in the catchment area. Goal 1: reduce youth substance use amongst youth ages 14-18, residing in randolph and washington counties. Objective 1.1 reduce 30-day use of alcohol amongst 8TH-12TH graders by 3% by 2028 as measured by student survey. Objective 1.2: increase risk of perception of harm amongst 8TH-12TH graders by 3% by 2028 as measured by student survey. Objective 1.3: increase perception of parental disapproval amongst 8TH-12TH graders of use by 3% by 2028 as measured by student survey. Objective 1.4: increase perception of peer disapproval amongst 8TH-12TH graders by 3% by 2028 as measured by student survey. Comwell estimates IT will serve 50 people per year, 200 over the life of the project, but will adjust these numbers following completion of the strategic plan.