Sweetwater County accepts $462,058 prevention grant to fund local substance‑use and suicide prevention

County Grants Manager Christine Marshall told commissioners that Sweetwater County was awarded a two‑year community prevention grant from the Wyoming Department of Health in the amount of $462,058, with no cash match required and a performance period ending June 30, 2028. Marshall explained the grant will flow through the county to Southwest Counseling Service, which will hire two community prevention specialists and implement evidence‑based prevention strategies.

Marshall described a sample logic‑model goal: reducing the share of 10th graders who report their last drink came from a parent from 15.04% to 14.54% through an awareness campaign and distribution of parent handbooks. Commissioners approved and authorized the chairman to sign the grant agreements; Marshall emphasized the grant is heavily supervised by the state Department of Health and includes a subrecipient agreement clarifying responsibilities.