Strengthening wellness, achievement & networks (swan) coalition - behavioral health solutions of south texas (bhsst), in collaboration with baylor college of medicine and the national institute for…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Behavioral Health Solutions of South Texas $600,000 under the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.492) on September 30, 2026.

The recipient will implement the Strengthening Wellness, Achievement, and Networks (SWAN) Coalition project to reduce substance use initiation and progression among youth and young adults in Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties in the Rio Grande Valley. The service area encompasses a population exceeding 1.3 million residents, with significant rural disparities particularly in Willacy County.

The SWAN project pursues five primary goals: strengthen and sustain a community-wide prevention coalition that engages multiple sectors and incorporates youth voice; increase community awareness and shift norms related to substance use through coordinated outreach and prevention messaging campaigns; expand access to evidence-based prevention services for youth and young adults in underserved and rural areas; build and enhance prevention workforce capacity through training, technical assistance, and cross-sector collaboration; and implement continuous quality improvement processes to monitor progress and sustain long-term prevention impact.

The project is guided by the Strategic Prevention Framework and will prioritize capacity building and community engagement. Collaborating organizations include Baylor College of Medicine and the National Institute for Behavioral Health.

Place of performance is Harlingen, Texas. The period of performance runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2031.

Strengthening wellness, achievement & networks (swan) coalition - behavioral health solutions of south texas (bhsst), in collaboration with baylor college of medicine and the national institute for behavioral health, proposes the strengthening wellness, achievement, and networks (swan) coalition project to reduce substance use initiation and progression among youth and young adults in cameron, hidalgo, and willacy counties in the RIO grande valley (RGV). The service area includes a population exceeding 1.3 million residents, with a high proportion of youth and significant rural disparities, particularly in willacy county. Substance use remains a critical public health concern in the region, with early initiation, increasing opioid-related risks, and ongoing challenges related to alcohol use, vaping, and prescription misuse. These risks are compounded by elevated poverty rates, limited access to healthcare, and gaps in prevention infrastructure. The swan project will implement a comprehensive, data-driven approach guided by the strategic prevention framework (SPF). The project will pursue five primary goals to guide implementation and outcomes: (1) strengthen and sustain a community-wide prevention coalition that engages multiple sectors and incorporates youth voice in planning and implementation; (2) increase community awareness and shift norms related to substance use through coordinated outreach and prevention messaging campaigns; (3) expand access to evidence-based prevention services for youth and young adults, with targeted efforts in underserved and rural areas; (4) build and enhance prevention workforce capacity through training, technical assistance, and cross-sector collaboration; and (5) implement a continuous quality improvement process to monitor progress, improve service delivery, and sustain long-term prevention impact across the region. The project will prioritize capacity building, community engagement, and implementation of evidence-based prevention strategies tailored to local needs. Targeted initiatives will include overdose prevention training and education on the use of naloxone. The project will also strengthen referral pathways and improve access to behavioral health and support services across the region. Over the five-year project period, the swan coalition will reach at least 8,500 individuals through population-based prevention messaging and provide direct prevention services to more than 2,400 participants. The project will also train over 800 community partners and professionals to strengthen prevention capacity. By integrating evidence-based strategies, strengthening community partnerships, and addressing identified capacity gaps, the swan project will reduce substance use risk and promote long-term behavioral health outcomes. This initiative aligns with samhsa's strategic priorities to prevent substance misuse, expand access to services, and strengthen community-based prevention systems. Ultimately, the project will support healthier, more resilient communities across cameron, hidalgo, and willacy counties.