Community Change Grants to Support Youth

Community Change Grants to Support Youth is sponsored by King County, Washington. Partners with local organizations to prevent and reduce substance use among King County youth ages 12-20, focusing on community changes that increase protective factors.

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Examples of protective factors Easy access to cannabis, commercial tobacco and/or vapor products Coping skills and activities that do not involve cannabis, commercial tobacco or vapor use Experiencing mental health distress School and community attachment Social influence to use substances Access to support for quitting cannabis, commercial tobacco, and vapor products Adult and community tolerance or promotion of youth substance use Knowledge, attitudes, and expectations that deter youth from trying and using substances Grants of up to $200,000 were awarded for terms of two to four years.

The grants are funded by King County’s Juul Settlement and by cannabis excise tax revenue paid to King County by Washington state. The grants program is also support by an award from the Washington State Department of Health Youth Commercial Tobacco and Cannabis Prevention Program.

Current Community Change Grantees AHI will provide culturally relevant workshops for youth focused on prevention, coping skills, and wellness to support Afghan youth in leading prevention-focused community projects. AHI will also engage caregivers in conversations on supporting youth around substance use.

APICAT will create a county-wide Asian American Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Healthy Youth Action Council of up to 12 youth members to address commercial tobacco/vapor products and cannabis along with other social and health issues impacting youth and their community. Youth will lead community projects that are responsive to youth needs.

Auburn Prevention Coalition Auburn's Youth Prevention Leadership Team at Cascade Middle School's focus is to identify, train, and support a small team of students to identify and address substance use-related issues their generation is facing. Activities include leadership skills development, youth-led prevention/awareness efforts, and advocating for the needs of their peers to decision-makers.

The aim is to improve conditions for Auburn youth through peer-led prevention while equipping the public health workforce of the future. Build 2 Lead will be offering an opportunity for youth 15-18 years old to join the Youth Executive Committee to build communications strategies and lead groups to increase protective factors.

Focus areas will be youth led solutions to substance use and abuse, community violence, and building pathways to supports for holistic success. Center for Multicultural Health CMCH will implement Ubuntu Circles: "I Am Because We Are," a four-year initiative designed to engage Black youth in King County through art, storytelling, and intergenerational mentorship as a means of substance use prevention.

Youth will participate in cultural experiences and conversations with Black elders and small business owners to strengthen their sense of identity and belonging. El Centro de la Raza will support students and their families through their Pa’lante Youth Leadership & Substance Use Prevention Program. This will include training of youth leaders, peer-led workshops, and family engagement workshops.

Enumclaw Youth Empowerment is advancing youth-led prevention efforts in schools and the community through peer-to-peer mentoring, community service, strategic prevention messaging, and comprehensive, up-to-date prevention education for grades five to nine. First Five Years and Beyond First Five Years and Beyond will engage African Americans and African Immigrants related to cannabis prevention, self-awareness, and community health.

Their Positive Family Connection Program will work with 10 youth and the broader community to increase leadership skills, knowledge, and support systems to reduce youth substance use. Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center Seattle's LGBTQ+ Center will establish a youth leader position to expand the opportunities for youth-led activities at the Center.

These activities will create substance-free spaces, grow community skills in healthy coping, and provide educational materials about commercial tobacco and cannabis prevention. Highline Public Schools is launching a peer-to-peer substance use prevention program centered on student voice.

Piloted at a credit recovery high school, the program will expand across secondary schools and includes youth-led learning, reflection, and the creation of a multimedia prevention campaign shared with middle schools. Through this work, students build leadership skills, strengthen protective factors, and help promote healthy choices in their community.

Kent Police Department’s Student Board will host their Game of Life conference and set up a train-the-trainer model to provide Mental Health First Aid trainings. They will also support Kent Youth and Family Services in establishing groups for affected families and youth navigating challenges related to substance youth.

Living Well Kent’s “Empowering Muslim Youth for Substance-Free Futures” project will engage Muslim immigrant and refugee youth to address cannabis, tobacco, and vapor use. This project will integrate culturally grounded education, coping skill development, peer leadership, and family engagement into existing after-school and summer youth programming.

Muslimahs Against Abuse Center The Unclouded Project is a MAAC program working with youth tackling the stigma around substance use through creative workshops, campaigns, and youth led projects. The youth cohort focuses on students leading students. Youth will lead meaningful discussions with their peers and spark change within the community.

Through the New Technologists Fellowship, NextWave Society connects historically marginalized and low-income young adults (18-20) with skills, technical experience and mentorship. This tech-based program is designed to prepare youth for the workplace and address substance abuse through economic mobility.

Serve Ethiopians Washington Serve Ethiopians of Washington will integrate substance use prevention education, mental health support, parent engagement, and youth-led advocacy into their existing youth soccer program. SG Education created the Prevention Ambassadors (PA) cohort program; a community based participatory action research process that trains and educates community ambassadors on substance use prevention.

Ten community members (adults and youth) serving the Latinx community will focus on deeper engagement, culturally responsive prevention, and skill-building among both participants and facilitators. This approach is designed to promote long-term sustainability of the PA program.

Somali Community Services of Seattle SCSS will educate and empower parents and youth by increasing awareness of the health risks associated with commercial tobacco and vaping and promoting strategies for prevention and safety. Youth play a critical role as peer educators and by creating and leading a media campaign to reach their peers.

SHB aims to expand opportunities for Somali youth through Healthy Body/Healthy Mind Leadership program, where experienced students mentor peers and share lessons learned. Community outreach will be supported by tailored media campaigns and quarterly informational sessions for parents, collaborating with local leaders and organizations.

SHB and partners will further strengthen their capacity to address youth and mental health issues by participating in events and promoting prevention messages. Summer Search is igniting students' potential through mentoring and transformative experiences.

Their goal is to strengthen protective factors and reduce youth substance use among South King County high school students by integrating drug prevention education and resources into one-on-one and group mentoring programming. The Therapy Fund's Youth H. E.

A. L. (Healing, Empowerment, Advocacy, Leadership) Youth Ambassador program will develop media products and youth leadership aimed to reduce substance use among Black youth.

Ambassadors will produce PSAs, a media campaign utilizing the PSAs, hold community discussion circles, events, and present at the annual Reclaiming Wellness Conference. VARSA'S mission is to reduce youth drug and alcohol use and promote healthy, substance-free lifestyles through education, advocacy, and community support to create an environment where young people can thrive.

Westside HEY supports youth prevention clubs with leadership programs, conducting neighborhood assessments, and creating safe and affirming spaces in West Seattle.