Grants just announced through the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) will invest in the promise of young people in Appalachian Ohio to lead and partner with their communities in substance-use prevention, according to a news release from FAO. 

Grantees across this region of the state will build new or develop stronger youth-led prevention efforts through a two-year infusion of grant funding, as well as training and technical assistance for the adults guiding young people in this work, the release said. 

Ohioans living in Appalachia have been greatly impacted by the destruction of the national opiate epidemic.

With these grants, the release explained, the Foundation will work with Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs to build upon their track record of growing youth-led prevention across Ohio by expanding efforts in the state’s Appalachian region.

The grants will invest not only in prevention strategies designed to reach young people, but also in the ability of young people to lead effective prevention efforts themselves, the release said.

“FAO has always believed in the children of Appalachia,” said FAO President and CEO Cara Dingus Brook. “As we partner with our communities to tackle some of our greatest challenges, we know that our youngest citizens have an incredible ability to lead. We have great hopes for the ways these young people can make a difference for their peers and their communities, in particular around issues of substance use.” 

In the release, OU President Duane Nellis added, “We are excited for this opportunity to help more communities develop youth-led prevention efforts to combat substance use. ”

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