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Activists hold car rally for immigration reform in front of Rep. Young Kim’s office
Nearly $29.7 Million Awarded to 32 Community-Based and Tribal Organizations from Proposition 64 Funds for Youth Substance Use Prevention
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Samantha Garcia
November 10, 2020 sgarcia@sierrahealth.org; (916) 996-8987
Nearly $29.7 Million Awarded to 32 Community-Based and Tribal Organizations from Proposition 64 Funds for Youth Substance Use Prevention California’s Adult Use of Marijuana Act Funds Second Round of Community-Based Youth Prevention and Education Partnerships Across the State
Sacramento, Calif. – Elevate Youth California, a project of The Center at Sierra Health Foundation under contract with the California Department of Health Care Services, today announced nearly $29.7 million awarded to 32 community-based and Tribal organizations throughout California. Funded by revenue generated by Proposition 64, which legalized adult non-medical use of cannabis in California, awarded partners will provide youth social justice, peer support and mentoring in low-income communities of color, including LGBTQ and Tribal communities.
Partner organizations will work with youth ages 12 to 26 and in urban and rural areas of the state. A full list of organizations that received grants can be found at the Elevate Youth California website.
“Community and Tribal organizations – and young people themselves – are incredible
catalysts for change. These new Elevate Youth California partnerships are essential to
reach youth and young adults, especially in communities disproportionately impacted by
the War on Drugs, and to prevent the many personal and community impacts of
substance use disorder and penalization,” said Chet P. Hewitt, president and CEO of
Sierra Health Foundation and The Center.
Multi-year grants of up to $1 million per project will support activities building youth leadership and activism, providing culturally relevant services and promoting policy, systems and environmental change. Funding will support efforts through November 2023.
“It is inspiring to see the level of innovation in the culturally responsive youth substance use prevention strategies that each of the 32 partners have presented in their applications. In the midst of a global pandemic, the nonprofit community and Tribal partners have found unique ways to expand the support they are providing the youth in their communities,” said Marlies Perez, with the California Department of Health Care Services, Community Services Division.
An initial round of funding awarded in March 2020 supports 26 community partners with $21.5 million through November 2022. Funding for the program comes through California Department of Health Care Services’ Proposition 64 California Cannabis Tax Fund, Allocation 3, Youth Education Prevention Early Intervention and Treatment Account.
About The Center at Sierra Health Foundation: The Center works to promote health and racial equity in communities throughout California with local, state and national partners. Learn more at www.shfcenter.org.
About Department of Health Care Services (DHCS): DHCS oversees comprehensive health care, including mental health and substance use disorder prevention and treatment services, for about 13 million Californians—nearly one-third of the state’s population. The department’s largest program is Medi-Cal, the backbone of California’s health-care safety net. Learn more at www.dhcs.ca.gov
About Proposition 64: Proposition 64 funding prioritizes youth education, prevention and early intervention, connecting youth and their families to programs that include wraparound care in communities disproportionately harmed by past and current drug policies and criminalized for substance use.
