SAFE in Northern Michigan, in partnership with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNW), has been awarded a $9,500 grant from the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation to support education curriculum.

“The Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation’s support means we can bring engaging, youth-led prevention initiatives directly into classrooms and assemblies, ensuring students feel heard, supported, and prepared,” says Susan Pulaski, Project Director of SAFE in Northern Michigan. “This funding allows us to empower middle schoolers with the practical knowledge they need to make healthy choices.”

The grant funds will be used to continue the Botvin LifeSkills Training at Petoskey Middle School and help expand youth-led substance use prevention assemblies across Emmet County. This funding comes at a critical time, as schools nationwide face increasing concerns about youth vaping, alcohol use, and pressure around decision-making.

The Botvin LifeSkills Training is an impactful education program that has been implemented by HDNW staff for the last 18 years. However, recent funding cuts put the continuation of the program in question.

The awarded grant, supported by the Ann K. Irish Charitable Fund, Birchwood Outreach Fund, Bund Family Fund, and the Ted and Brenda Frey Donor Advised Fund, will help SAFE in Northern Michigan deliver seven life skills lessons to all Petoskey seventh-grade students. It will also help SAFE coalition members host fun, interactive prevention assemblies at local middle schools. These activities are meant to build positive skills and reduce risky behaviors in students.

This investment helps ensure the continuation of a program that has served Petoskey students and plays an essential role in promoting healthier, safer choices among middle schoolers, contributing to HDNW’s vision of Healthy People in Healthy Communities.

To learn more about SAFE in Northern Michigan, visit their website at safeinnm.com. To stay updated on all health-related news, subscribe to HDNW’s monthly newsletter here. Visit nwhealth.org to explore more about how HDNW is supporting teens and young adults in the community.