Project Grant NH28CE004118

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded the Brooke Hancock Family Resource Network Inc. $125,000 on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program (CFDA 93.276) to reduce marijuana and nicotine use among youth in Weirton, West Virginia.

The recipient will implement a five-year, data-driven prevention initiative addressing root causes of youth substance use. Environmental scans and community readiness assessments identified four primary local conditions: peer distribution of vapes and edibles in school parking lots, inconsistent retailer ID enforcement, caregiver-supplied products, and community norms treating substance use as a "rite of passage." BHPA will engage all twelve required DFC sectors with emphasis on youth leadership and caregiver education. The coalition's strategy includes providing information at school and community events, delivering evidence-based programs such as Lifeskills and NOT, reducing access through retailer training and signage, and shifting cultural norms through public campaigns and family-centered outreach. Policy efforts will address school-based consequences, court diversion, and enforcement of West Virginia's tobacco and cannabis laws. Over five years, the coalition aims to achieve a 3 percent reduction in youth marijuana and nicotine use and a 5 percent improvement in perceived risk of use. Progress will be measured through core DFC evaluation tools, community surveys, youth feedback, and policy change tracking.

Performance runs through June 30, 2031, and takes place in West Virginia.