Kansas Gets $500,000 for Faith-Based Addiction Prevention
Kansas, along with Alabama and West Viginia, is receiving supplemental funding to strengthen the role of faith-based organizations and leaders in substance use prevention as part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Strategic Prevention Framework–Partnerships for Success.
“Every child deserves the chance to grow up free from addiction,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said. “Prevention begins with strong families, strong communities and a sense of purpose. Faith leaders are uniquely positioned to reach young people at a critical point in their lives, and President Trump’s Great American Recovery is putting resources behind these trusted community leaders to help prevent addiction before it begins.”
Under the supplemental funding, each state is receiving an additional $500,000 under the Partnerships for Success grant program. Kansas is using the supplemental funding to work with faith communities to build new partnerships, conduct needs assessments and co-develop strategic prevention plans with faith leaders, all while engaging youth in the process from day one.
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This funding supports the Trump administration’s Great American Recovery.
“The Great American Recovery starts in our communities, where connection, purpose and hope can change the course of a person’s life,” said Kathryn Burgum, White House senior advisor for addiction recovery. “This funding recognizes the powerful role faith communities can play in creating a culture where young people feel supported, find a sense of belonging and are empowered to make healthy choices. By investing in prevention at the community level, we are helping build a future where every person has the opportunity to thrive.”
Monty Burks, Ph.D., director of the HHS Center for Faith, highlighted the central role of daith in addiction prevention and recovery.
“Faith communities have been doing this work for generations — walking alongside families, mentoring young people, helping people find purpose and responding when their neighbors are struggling,” he said. “Our job is not to replace that work but to equip it. By connecting faith leaders with training, resources and state prevention partners, we can build on what is already working in communities and help local leaders reach even more people.”
–Lee Hartman
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