Elevate Youth California: Cohort 7 Standard Track

The Elevate Youth California program is a statewide initiative launched in 2019 and funded through the Youth Education, Prevention, and Early Intervention Account of the California Cannabis Tax Fund. This program is administered by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) with implementation support from the Sierra Health Foundation: Center for Health Program Management, a nonprofit organization focused on reducing health disparities across underserved communities in California. Elevate Youth California invests in youth leadership, civic engagement, and substance use disorder prevention for youth ages 12 to 26 who are most impacted by the war on drugs, with particular focus on youth of color and 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support organizations that engage youth in civic activities designed to create positive policy, systems, and environmental change. Projects are expected to address substance use disorder prevention through mentorship, peer-to-peer programming, and social justice youth development. These approaches are designed to dismantle inequities related to systemic racism, the school-to-prison pipeline, housing insecurity, economic disparities, and the criminalization of youth of color. Funded projects must utilize harm reduction, trauma-informed, and healing-centered practices that are culturally and linguistically responsive. Organizations eligible to apply include California-based 501(c)(3) community-based organizations, Tribal organizations, collaboratives or coalitions, and county behavioral health organizations that are the sole provider of prevention services in their county. Applicants must demonstrate trusted community relationships, inclusivity, cultural responsiveness, and a proven history of serving communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. School districts, schools, charter schools, and county offices of education are not eligible. Applicants currently holding an Elevate Youth California grant are not eligible unless their award concludes by December 2025. Fiscal sponsors may apply on behalf of fiscally sponsored projects, but for-profit status is not allowed. Funding awards are available for up to one million dollars for a three-year period running from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028. A minimum of four payments will be issued to grantees, with an initial 35 percent disbursed upon grant execution and subsequent payments tied to progress and financial reporting. Indirect costs may be requested up to 20 percent of direct costs. The grant prohibits spending on lobbying, partisan activities, vehicle or property purchases, clinical services, cannabis products, or religious activities. Program funds must be used for prevention, youth civic engagement, mentoring, peer support, education, and community healing initiatives. Applications must demonstrate alignment with the program’s logic model, which emphasizes youth-led policy change and systems transformation. Funded partners are expected to conduct annual listening sessions with youth, engage in external evaluations, and participate in technical assistance opportunities. Reporting requirements include submission of biannual progress and financial reports that document activities, participant demographics, outcomes, and policy or systems changes. Success will be measured by increased knowledge of substance use disorder prevention, reduced stigma around services, and evidence of community-level change. The program prioritizes funding for both urban and rural areas of California, with 85 percent of resources reserved for urban communities and 15 percent for rural communities as defined by census and state standards. DHCS encourages proposals that integrate evidence-based, promising, and community-driven practices. Projects are expected to engage youth voices in meaningful ways that foster leadership development and advance equity. For more information about Elevate Youth California and resources for applicants, organizations can visit www.elevateyouthca.org.