Community grant projects

We have awarded eight community change grants to local organizations that are working towards preventing and reducing cannabis (marijuana), commercial tobacco, and vapor use among King County youth (ages 12-20). Our grantees for the 2023-2024 fiscal year are serving King County youth and families from a diverse set of languages, backgrounds, and cultures with a focus on BIPOC youth and serving South King County.

These organizations will develop programs that build skills for youth, families, and communities to make healthy community changes. Grants are available for terms of one to four years and for amounts of $10,000 to $50,000 per year. The grants are funded with funds from cannabis excise tax revenue from King County and from the WA State Dept. of Health Youth Commercial Tobacco and Cannabis Prevention Program.

• Somali Health Board
  Expands access to soccer as alternative to substance use and way to develop coping skills. Engaged youth will receive training to be ambassadors for health.
• SG Education
  Develops community prevention ambassador program for youth and influential adults. Ambassadors complete action projects in their communities. Graduates of program train new ambassadors.
• Afghan Health Initiative
  Youth ambassador program will support and train youth to organize/outreach with peers, adults, and ethnic retail sources of tobacco and vapes.
• Westside HEY Coalition
  Supports youth prevention clubs with leadership programs, conducting neighborhood assessments, and creating safe and affirming spaces in West Seattle.
• VARSA Coalition
  Addressing in school suspension as discipline policy for use, leveraging Source of Strength for mental health and community organizing for prevention through coalition work in Vashon Island.
• Muslimahs Against Abuse Center
  Building youth-guided support, health information, and cultural activities into their Teen Awareness Program. Will start out in assessment phase to find out what youth and families need.
• Enumclaw Youth Empowered Coalition
  Communications and education campaign led by students to coordinate and promote new school substance use policies resulting from school discipline check-up.
• Mission Africa
  Youth will engage in prevention projects and developing media. Families will normalizing protective conversations about substances at home.