Project Grant H79SP085376

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded Morris County Prevention IS Key, Inc. $425,000 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.492) to implement the Morris County Prevention and Resilience Initiative.

The project delivers evidence-based youth prevention programming, parent and caregiver education, strategic multimedia messaging, and community capacity building to prevent and reduce substance use initiation and progression among youth under age 21 in Morris County, New Jersey. Key activities include implementation of evidence-based youth prevention programs (Boys Council and Girls Circle), family-based prevention programming enhancements (Strengthening Families Program), and SAMHSA's Talk. They Hear You. Campaign deployed through countywide multimedia outlets including billboards, restaurant and grocery store advertisements, digital media, school-based dissemination, and community outreach. Capacity-building efforts strengthen prevention infrastructure across schools, youth-serving organizations, coalitions, and community partners using the Strategic Prevention Framework informed by a socioecological model.

The initiative serves all residents of Morris County, a suburban county with more than 524,000 residents including 20.4 percent youth under 18. Primary beneficiaries are youth under age 21 and their parents and caregivers, with prioritization for youth at elevated risk due to early substance use initiation, justice system involvement, adverse childhood experiences, low perception of harm, and limited parental monitoring. Secondary audiences include middle and high school students, school personnel, and community stakeholders engaged in prevention, intervention, and recovery support systems.

Performance extends from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2031, with all work performed in New Jersey.