The Healthy Youth Coalition and Communities that Care of Marinette and Menominee counties, has received a grant for $155,982 from the Provident Health Foundation. From left are John Hofer, Provident Health Foundation executive director; Karianne Lesperance, executive director for Menominee County Intermediate School District Prevention Services; and Cindy Grabowski, ISD Prevention Services coordinator.

MENOMINEE — The Healthy Youth Coalition and Communities that Care of Marinette and Menominee Counties, have received a $155,982 grant from the Provident Health Foundation.

This award is designated for supporting substance use prevention initiatives in schools and communities during 2024-25. The Prevention Services Department of Menominee County Intermediate School District will oversee the grant award.

“Our board is proud to support the Healthy Youth Coalition and Communities that Care programs,” John Hofer, executive director of the Provident Health Foundation said. “Their prevention efforts, aimed at deterring the initiation of alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, and prescription drugs have demonstrated success, and we want to help them continue this effort.”

The grant will support HYC activities across 12 school districts, including guest speakers, a Youth Summit, youth-led positive alternative activities, the Sticker Shock project, and community outreach and education efforts.

The grant will also support the CTC action plan to reduce and prevent youth substance use by addressing community risk and protective factors. These include parent education events, alcohol security supplies, proper ID checking equipment, and community outreach.

Grant funds will also provide support for data collection efforts, which are conducted through school student surveys and focus groups. The results of these assessments are pivotal in guiding the implementation of both action plans.

Recent CTC data has shown a community-wide decrease in youth alcohol consumption by 20% since 2005 when HYC first started conducting programs in the community as well as a 10% decrease in youth tobacco and prescription drug abuse.

“Everyone here at the ISD is grateful to Provident for not only serving as a key funder for our efforts, but also for recognizing the critical role of other organizations like ours in promoting education, protective factors, and healthy lifestyles in the community,” said Karianne Lesperance, executive director for ISD Prevention Services.

Currently, the Prevention Department is ineligible for Michigan state prevention funds and receives a small WI State Opioid Response grant to partially fund HYC’s prescription drug abuse prevention campaign in Marinette County.

The CTC coalition is halfway through a 10-year federal grant cycle and cannot renew its funding eligibility. To sustain its efforts, HYC leverages its sustainability fund, supported significantly by local contributions and foundations like the Provident Health Foundation.

“CTC and HYC’s impressive and effective work advances Provident’s mission to improve community health and we are excited to see their continued impact in the community. Hofer said. “If our funding can help accomplish this, we are doing what we are supposed to be doing.”

For more information about the Healthy Youth Coalition or Communities that Care, please contact Karianne Lesperance at 906-863-5665 ext.1038 or klesperance@mc-isd.org or visit our website at www.mmhyc.org.

For more information on the Provident Health Foundation please reach out at contact@providenthealth.org or visit providenthealth.org.