(The Center Square) – The Colorado Department of Law is awarding $5 million in youth mental health and well-being grants.
Attorney General Phil Weiser recently announced the grants.
“Youth in Colorado and across the nation are facing a crisis of connection, leading to challenges with mental health and risky behaviors like increased vaping,” Weiser said. “This funding supports schools and community partners who are developing meaningful, proactive solutions that build strong relationships, empower youth, and promote lifelong well-being.”
The grants will go to nine school districts and community organizations:
• Clear Creek School District: ($565,000).
• Englewood School District: ($560,000).
• Gilpin County Parks & Recreation: ($605,154).
• Ignacio School District: ($450,000).
• Kiowa County Public Health Agency: ($360,000).
• Las Animas School District: ($444,591).
• Northeast Colorado BOCES: ($750,000).
• Roaring Fork School District: ($700,255).
• South Routt School District: ($565,000).
This is the third round of grants funded by a multi-state 2023 settlement with e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs Inc. Colorado received $31.7 million from the settlement, which resolved a lawsuit alleging that Juul targeted youth in its marketing and misled the public about the health risks of its products.
“While no amount of money or new restrictions on Juul’s business practices can undo the harms caused by the teen vaping epidemic, this settlement will make great strides towards reducing it and can support young people who are hurting now more than ever,” Weiser said of the settlement.
Colorado has been particularly affected by the youth vaping epidemic — regularly trending near the top of the list of states with the biggest teen vaping issues.
Yet, just as national teen vaping numbers have trended down in recent years, so has Colorado’s. In 2017, 27% of the state’s high school students reported using an e-cigarette in the past month. By 2023, that had dropped to just 9%, according to data from the state.
In 2024, the Colorado Department of Law announced the distribution of 42 grants totaling $17.4 million specifically to combat youth vaping, even though it was already trending down.
“We are pleased to award this grant funding to fight the youth vaping crisis by providing resources for education, prevention and treatment in our Colorado schools,” said Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova.
The latest set of grants is focused on youth mental health initiatives that promote youth well-being, which the state has identified as the “underlying cause” for why youth turn to vaping.
