EASD has been awarded a $90,000 Vaping Prevention and Treatment Initiative (VPTI) grant by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) through 2025 to help address the youth and young adult vaping epidemic.
DHS awarded 13 grants worth $830,000 over the next two years to community organizations throughout Wisconsin to help address the youth and young adult vaping epidemic. Funding for the Vaping Prevention and Treatment Initiatives (VPTI) grants comes from current payments to Wisconsin as part of a $14.7 million multiyear JUUL Settlement announced by the Wisconsin Department of Justice in September 2022.
DHS sought to work with agencies and organizations like EASD to integrate vaping prevention and cessation into existing programming for young people. “We see the promise in connecting with young people when and where they are and empowering them to advocate for themselves in school settings, among their peers, and in their families and communities,” said Katie James, Elkhorn Community Grant Writer. All funded programs and activities will be specifically designed to help teens and young adults up to age 24.
The following organizations received Vaping Prevention and Treatment Initiatives grants and are funded through 2025:
- American Lung Association
- Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles
- Elkhorn Area School District
- Family Services of Southern WI and Northern IL (Youth 2 Youth 4 Change)
- Great Rivers United Way Better Together
- Hope Council, Kenosha
- Jackson County Health Department
- Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
- Marathon County Health Department
- Northeastern Wisconsin Area Health Education Center (NEWAHEC)
- Oregon Area Cares Community Coalition--Village of Oregon
- Wisconsin Safe and Healthy Schools Center (WISH)
- Youth of Burnett County Prevention Coalition
Find more information about JUUL Settlement funding on the DHS website.
Wisconsinites can access the free Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line by texting READY to 34191. Residents ages 13 and up can also reach the Quit Line 24/7 by calling 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) or by visiting WiQuitLine.org to learn more. Teens ages 13 to 17 who specifically want to quit vaping can text VAPEFREE to 873373 for free help via text. The American Indian Quit Line at 888-7AI-QUIT (888-724-7848) offers free culturally tailored support for Indigenous people who want to quit commercial tobacco.