WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family (GOYFF) will receive approximately $6.2 million in federal grant funding to expand and strengthen evidence-based substance use prevention strategies for youth and young adults in Arizona communities.
In partnership with the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University (ASU), GOYFF will invest approximately $1.25 million annually over the next five years to support the implementation of the Arizona Prevention and Well-being Improvement Collaborative (PWIC), the first collaborative in the State to promote evidence-based substance use prevention through peer learning and quality improvement support.
“At ASU and the College of Health Solutions, we are on a mission to improve health and health care in Arizona and beyond,” said ASU College of Health Solutions Dean Deborah Helitzer. “We are thrilled to join with the Arizona Governor’s Office and our federal funders to support Arizona community organizations and enhance the important work they are doing to prevent misuse of substances. We look forward to helping convene this new learning community where we will share expert knowledge, increase workforce capacity and create better health solutions together.”
Based on results from a community health assessment, the PWIC will bring together 30 organizations focused on preventing substance use and increasing mental well-being among youth and young adults from underserved minority groups to participate in a five-year collaborative. During this time, organizations will access expert education, tailored technical assistance, an online training certificate program, and quality improvement support through a peer-led model where organizations teach one another how they learned to adopt an evidence-based program or improve an existing one.
“This funding is critical to expanding substance misuse prevention efforts for youth and young adults in communities across the State,” said GOYFF CEO Tonya Hamilton. “I look forward to seeing the impact of these dollars to enhance protective factors and reduce risk factors by empowering community cohesion and working to achieve Governor Hobbs’ vision of an Arizona for everyone.”
Specific goals of the Arizona Prevention and Well-being Improvement Collaborative
- Determine prevention and well-being gaps between current conditions in Arizona and desired conditions.
- Recruit Arizona community organizations serving youth and young adults.
- Increase awareness of substance use prevention and mental well-being in Arizona communities.
- Provide training and technical assistance to community organizations on substance use prevention and mental well-being.
- Develop and implement evidence-based prevention and mental health promotion programs.
About the Strategic Prevention Framework - Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) grant
The funds awarded through the Strategic Prevention Framework - Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) grant are federally authorized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and distributed through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Read SAMHSA’s Press Release here.
###