New Haven seeks $1.62 million grant for youth tobacco-prevention program

The New Haven Health Department on Monday asked the Board of Alders’ committee to approve moving forward with a three-year, $1.62 million grant proposal for a youth tobacco-prevention initiative called BREEVE.

The proposal, presented by Director Elizabeth Vaughn of the New Haven Health Department, seeks roughly $540,000 per year for three years (a total of $1,620,000) from the Connecticut Department of Public Health to expand education, outreach and enforcement aimed at reducing tobacco and e-cigarette use and secondhand exposure among residents, with a primary focus on people ages 12–24.

BREEVE would support a mix of strategies across schools and community settings, including an evidence-based social media campaign targeted at teens and young adults, peer-driven campaign components that let youth co-create materials, extracurricular prevention activities delivered through community health workers, and place-based school and community programming. Director Vaughn said the program "aims to build on and expand the ongoing tobacco-free engagement project" and would partner with the New Haven Public Schools and regional health departments.

The program would also include point-of-sale interventions tied to the city’s recent smoke-shop regulations. The proposal funds a test-purchasing strategy using paid shoppers ages 18–20 to check compliance with underage-sales rules and would provide stipends to those participants. The department described plans to review smoke-free ordinances across the region, work with national experts on possible legislative restrictions affecting private rental housing and non–city-owned outdoor spaces, and expand outreach to tenants and workers about rights related to secondhand smoke.

Budget details presented to the committee allocate about $926,000 for salary and fringe across the grant period and about $592,000 for marketing and contractor costs; the presenter stated an amount for marketing giveaways that was recorded in the meeting as "about $75" (the transcript did not specify units). Director Vaughn said the department has a multifaceted sustainability plan to continue core activities after grant funding ends and that, if funded, the program would begin in December 2025.

Committee members asked about past experience and outreach methods. Vaughn said a similar grant had been funded during the Tony Harper administration of the community services department and that staff reviewed past materials to strengthen the current application. She described partnerships with libraries and community organizations to reach youth outside school and said campaigns will be tailored to different student populations. On outreach questions, Vaughn noted the plan includes social media and peer-to-peer work and that community health workers and local organizations would deliver prevention activities.

Alder Omar Rodriguez expressed support for the proposal. "I agree with my colleagues in support of the item, and I think that it's exciting to see the city pursuing this education initiative," he said. Several other committee members voiced support during discussion, describing youth tobacco use as a pressing local concern.

No members of the public spoke during the item’s public-comment period; the committee closed public testimony and then voted by voice to move the item forward. The committee chair called the motion and the item passed on an affirmative voice vote.

If the grant is awarded, staff said the department would use a mix of existing community health workers (redirected as grants end) and some new hires paid from the grant. The presenter said the department is in good standing with the proposed funder, the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and expects to hear a funding decision from that agency.

The item will proceed for the next steps following the committee vote; committee members asked staff to share further information on outreach and messaging as plans are finalized.