By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
The city’s Health Department has been awarded a $10,000 Underage Nicotine Prevention grant by the Alliance for Prevention and Wellness, a program of BHcare.
West Haven is one of only five applicants in the region selected to receive the funding, according to Andressa Mikita, the department’s community health coordinator, who wrote the grant for the city.
Supported by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services through the state’s Juul settlement funds, the grant program will run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
“Securing this highly competitive grant is a major win for the health and safety of our young people,” Mayor Dorinda Borer said. “By targeting the retail environment and working directly with our community partners, we are taking proactive, measurable steps to keep harmful nicotine products out of the hands of West Haven children.”
Mikita said the initiative focuses on retail environments and community-based strategies.
“This funding opportunity reflects our belief that prevention is a community effort,” she said. “With this support, we can deepen our relationship with retailers and young people to ensure that Westies feel supported and empowered to break free from nicotine dependence and live healthier lives.”
Mikita said the city will use the funds to decrease underage sales of nicotine products by increasing the Health Department’s presence and expanding retailer education; to reduce and prevent tobacco use by raising awareness of health risks and increasing access to cessation resources; and to deepen community understanding of local tobacco prevention needs through new quantitative and qualitative assessments.
“This funding allows us to build upon our department’s long-standing capacity for successful merchant compliance checks and community health programming,” Health Director Sheila Carmon said. “With the addition of a dedicated nicotine prevention specialist, we will strengthen our local retailer relationships, engage our youth groups and significantly expand access to vital cessation resources.”
Carmon said the newly created, part-time nicotine prevention specialist will drive the prevention activities outlined in the project’s strategic plan.
To ensure successful outcomes, the specialist will coordinate regularly with BHcare’s team, local youth organizations, partner agencies and tobacco retailers, she said.
BHcare is a nonprofit Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic that provides comprehensive mental health, substance use and domestic violence services. Based in North Haven, it serves as the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority for several regional municipalities.
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