Montgomery County HHS committee recommends $390,000 supplemental appropriation for youth vaping prevention

Councilmember Lori Ann Sales, chair of the Montgomery County Health and Human Services Committee, opened a work session saying the committee was considering "FY 27 supplemental appropriation, 27 dash 1 for $390,000 to address youth vaping and nicotine addiction." The requested dollars would come from restricted Jewel and Altria settlement funds and are meant to reauthorize previously approved but unspent awards and support program administration.

Council staff told the committee the allocation would include $250,000 for RecMode Fitness and Boxing LLC's Beyond the Gloves program, $100,000 for the Street Outreach Network and two passenger vans, and $40,000 for a contracted administrative specialist to manage reporting and fiscal accountability. Christopher Rogers of Montgomery County DHHS said the county has received about $3.9 million to date from those settlements and does not expect additional funds.

Committee members pressed DHHS on measurement and oversight; Nicole Rodriguez Hernandez (council staff) and DHHS staff described pretest/posttest evaluations, shared reporting schedules, and plans to provide technical assistance to grantees. Chair Sales called for follow-up reporting in FY28 budget sessions. The committee then voted to recommend the appropriation; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.