Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a $5 million grant to expand paid service roles for young men across California, aiming to recruit 10,000 participants over two years into the California Men’s Service Challenge through the California Service Corps.

The funding, Newsom said, is an extension of an executive order issued in July that directs state agencies to address rising suicide rates, unemployment and gaps in educational achievement for men in their twenties and early 30s. The governor said the grant will fund near-peer mentorship programs, boost capacity to involve more young men in service and offer education awards to encourage participation.

"The grant will fund near peer mentorship programs. It'll boost capacity to involve more young men in service and will offer education awards to encourage participation," Newsom said. He also urged anyone struggling to seek help, saying, "If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. You can call or text the 24/7 crisis hotline at 988."

A member of the audience who spoke during the announcement said the initiative is drawing attention to younger men as well as older men in suicide prevention discussions: "A lot of times you think that it's the older male that is the issue, but this is really shining a light that it's not just the older men that are committing suicide. It's the younger men," the commenter said, and added, "And and teenagers too."

Newsom’s remarks tied the grant to the broader goals of the executive order: reducing suicide risk, increasing employment opportunities and narrowing achievement gaps among young men. The announcement did not specify a program start date, selection process for recipients or the departmental home for administering the funds. Those implementation details were not specified in the remarks.

Officials described the program as paid service roles including mentors, coaches and tutors placed through the California Service Corps; the governor characterized the effort as a way to increase near-peer supports and offer education awards to participants. Further details about timelines, application processes and other program rules were not provided during the announcement.