Project Grant NH28CE004100

The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded LUK Crisis Center, Inc. $125,000 on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program Grants (CFDA 93.276) to support the Leominster Community Action Team's prevention and reduction strategies targeting youth use of alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine in Leominster, Massachusetts.

The Leominster Community Action Team has operated since 2002 to prevent youth substance use in the city, sustaining efforts through volunteer commitment and small grants after state funding ended in 2014. The award funds expansion and enhancement of these prevention efforts through 2031. LUK Crisis Center serves as the fiscal agent and applicant; the organization has 25 years of experience supporting community coalitions implementing evidence-based substance use prevention models across North Central Massachusetts.

The Drug-Free Communities Support Program establishes and strengthens collaborations among community coalitions, public and private nonprofit agencies, and federal, state, local, and tribal governments to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth. Eligible coalitions must demonstrate at least six months of prior collaborative work on substance abuse reduction, meet composition requirements, ensure substantial community volunteer effort, and provide 100–150 percent cash or in-kind match. The cooperative agreement runs through June 30, 2031, with performance and financial reporting required annually and upon completion.