Communities that care of marinette & menominee counties will implement youth substance use prevention strategies and activities to prevent and reduce youth substance use in the community. - the…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded Menominee County Intermediate School District $125,000 on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program (CFDA 93.276), a Project Grant providing assistance type.

Menominee County ISD will implement youth substance use prevention strategies and activities through the Communities That Care (CTC) of Marinette and Menominee Counties coalition, which serves two neighboring rural counties straddling the Menominee River—Marinette, Wisconsin and Menominee, Michigan—with a combined youth population of nearly 12,000 across 12 public school districts. The coalition addresses key risk factors including high social and retail access to substances, low parental disapproval, favorable youth attitudes toward use, low perceived harm particularly for marijuana, aggressive product marketing, and lack of safe youth alternatives. Local survey data indicate youth most commonly access alcohol willingly from parents and obtain vaping products through family members or vape shops. The prevention approach targets alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana use by implementing evidence-based strategies addressing these identified risk factors and access pathways.

The award runs through June 30, 2031, with performance taking place in Michigan. The DFC Support Program purpose is to establish and strengthen collaborations among community coalitions, public and private agencies, and federal, state, local, and tribal governments to prevent and reduce youth substance abuse.

Communities that care of marinette & menominee counties will implement youth substance use prevention strategies and activities to prevent and reduce youth substance use in the community. - the communities that care (CTC) of marinette and menominee counties coalition serves two neighboring, rural counties of marinette, WI and menominee, MI, with a combined youth population of nearly 12,000 across 12 public school districts. Although separated by the menominee river and governed by two different states, these communities operate as one cultural and economic region. However, conflicting state laws regarding alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco create confusion among youth and normalize substance use. In wisconsin, underage drinking with a parent is legal, while michigan has legalized recreational marijuana for adults but strictly prohibits underage alcohol use. Furthermore, wisconsin continues to permit tobacco use at age 18, despite federal legislation raising the age to 21. CTC aims to prevent and reduce youth use of alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana by addressing key risk factors, including high social and retail access, low parental disapproval, favorable youth attitudes toward use, low perception of harm, particularly with marijuana, aggressive product marketing, and a lack of safe alternatives for youth. Local focus groups and survey data indicate that substances are most commonly accessed by youth through family members, peers, and retailers who fail to enforce age restrictions. According to our 2024-25 student survey, the most common way youth obtained alcohol in the past year was willingly from their parents. Additionally, over 70% of youth focus group respondents indicated that vaping products were most commonly accessible through family members, with vape shops identified as the second most frequent source. To address these challenges, CTC implements a multi-faceted, evidence-based approach to implementing prevention strategies and activities that includes: • alcohol and tobacco retail compliance checks • a pilot ID scanner program at community festivals • the lock IT up! Campaign, distributing alcohol fridge locks and educational materials through schools, community events, and youth organizations • parent education on legal and health consequences of youth substance use and promotion of social host liability laws and ordinances • youth-led media campaigns, peer theater, and infographics to reshape community norms and amplify student voices • no cost, substance-free events and youth leadership initiatives that build protective factors • advocacy to limit marijuana advertising and dispensary locations near youth-centered spaces outcomes are tracked using the biennial pride survey plus student survey, youth focus groups, and post-program evaluations. CTC remains committed to fostering healthy behaviors, reducing youth substance use, and creating a safe, supportive environment for all families across marinette and menominee counties.