Influence The Choice

Influence The Choice is a non-profit organization located in Newcastle, Washington, registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) from May 8, 2023, to March 7, 2026. As a corporate entity with tax-exempt status, the organization focuses on youth substance abuse prevention and mental health promotion, primarily serving the Issaquah School District area in Western Washington. The organization specializes in developing community-based prevention strategies targeting youth, with a particular emphasis on substance use prevention, mental health support, and community engagement.

Through its federal grant awards, Influence The Choice has secured a significant five-year Project Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program. The $120,000 grant, awarded on September 30, 2024, aims to reduce underage drinking and promote mental health among students in the Greater Issaquah School District. The organization's grant-funded activities include establishing youth prevention clubs, providing substance use prevention education and skills training for 6th-12th grade students, conducting social media campaigns on refusal skills and anxiety reduction, hosting alcohol-free student events, and collaborating with local municipalities to enact social hosting ordinances. Additionally, Influence The Choice has received sub-grant awards from Skagit County Public Hospital District 304, with grant descriptions focusing on prevention services and activism against substance abuse. The organization's approach emphasizes culturally competent programming, with a specific focus on reaching LGBTQ+, Hispanic, and Asian youth populations through evidence-based strategies.