Project Grant NH28CE004157

The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded $250,000 to Community Action For Recovery And Empowerment on July 1, 2026, under the Drug-Free Communities Support Program Grants (CFDA 93.276) to support the Middletown Youth Coalition (MYC), a community-based collaborative effort to prevent and reduce youth substance use in Middletown, Ohio.

MYC implements a comprehensive approach integrating prevention, education, youth empowerment, and community engagement to address documented substance use trends in the region. Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey data show approximately 22–23 percent of high school students report past 30-day alcohol use, 15–18 percent report current marijuana use, and nearly 20 percent report current electronic vapor product use. Local school and community data document ongoing challenges including vaping in school environments, early marijuana initiation, and underage alcohol access through social sources. Youth perception surveys indicate many adolescents view vaping and marijuana as low-risk or socially acceptable. A 2025 Middletown Youth Data Walk and Town Hall identified neighborhood-level inequities in priority census tracts (130–132) with life expectancy approximately 12.5 years lower than non-focus tracts, reflecting systemic conditions including housing instability, neighborhood safety concerns, and limited access to prevention and youth-serving resources. The award period runs through June 30, 2031, with place of performance in Ohio.