HHS committee recommends $390,000 from settlement funds for youth vaping prevention

Montgomery County’s Health and Human Services Committee on July 14 recommended approval of a $390,000 FY27 supplemental appropriation drawn from Juul and Altria settlement proceeds to support youth vaping prevention and nicotine addiction response. Nicole Rodriguez Hernandez, reading the packet for the committee, said the request would fund $250,000 for Wreck Mode Fitness Boxing LLC’s Beyond the Gloves program, $100,000 for the Street Outreach Network and $40,000 for a contracted administrative specialist to support the youth mental health and substance use grants program.

The funding comes from a restricted settlement account; staff noted the county has received about $3.9 million to date and does not expect additional settlement funds. "Nearly one in 5 surveyed Montgomery County High School students has used an electronic vapor product and 10.2% currently use tobacco or vaping product," Rodriguez Hernandez said, citing county data that framed the need for prevention and cessation work. After a period of questions about implementation and oversight, the committee voted to recommend the appropriation; the motion "passes unanimously."