Ariel Pompey and Amber Horwitz have landed an opportunity to expand their 9-year-old substance use prevention project, thanks to a $224,755 grant from the Washtenaw County Opioid Settlement Fund.
The money will be used to reach more youth with the program, called Prevention@EMU, that focuses on working with Ypsilanti area 11- to 15 year-olds.
"Our mission is to educate youth to make low-risk choices, reduce stigmatized views of individuals with substance use disorder, and promote healthier communities starting with our youngest residents," Horwitz said in a written announcement on the grant award. "This funding allows us to reach more students and provide the tools they need to understand risk, make informed decisions, and develop empathy for others in their community."
Pompey and Horwitz are co-directors of the program. The two partnered with the Washtenaw Alliance for Virtual Education, the Early College Alliance at EMU, and the Ypsilanti Community Schools to provide the program, which educates teens on ways to make low-risk decisions when it comes to substance use.
Prevention@EMU uses evidence-based research and destigmatized approaches to provide a safe space for groups of youths to safely and realistically learn about substances and how to make educated decisions, the creators explained on the program's website.
The program uses tools specifically designed for tweens and teens, aiding conversations about substances such as vaping, smoking, and alcohol and promoting a recovery-oriented mindset. Pompey and Horwitz have four different program offerings aimed at different age groups and covering different types of topics. Program types range from those using theater techniques to those covering social skills and violence reduction.
The overall goal of the program and its directors is to reach children before they face choices about addictive substances. In addition to promoting informed decision making, the program leaders work to break down stigmas regarding addictive behaviors and to cultivate empathy for everyone within their community.
"We incorporate evidence-based research with creative, engaging approaches to connect with students,” Pompey said in the announcement. “This grant empowers us to expand our program, reaching critical age groups before first use and equipping them with the skills to navigate choices around substance use."
Funding for the grant comes from Washtenaw County’s opioid settlement fund, which was established following the settlement of lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies and their distributors regarding their contribution to the opioid crisis. Over an 18-year period, starting in 2023, Washtenaw County is set to receive $16.3 million in funds.
The money received in the opioid settlement fund is designed to go toward remediation, prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and improving access to health services. The funding for Prevention@EMU comes from a portion dedicated to proposals sent to the county and are due to begin rolling out in October 2025.
Prevention@EMU is just one of nine organizations awarded funding based on their submitted proposals. The grant period is for three years.
The $224,756 in grant funding will be used to reach a greater audience of Ypsilanti area youths by providing facilitator salaries, program supplies and other materials needed for making the prevention education possible. Those who participate in the program include more than Pompey and Horwitz, who as co-directors lead a full staff. While the team has a clinical social worker on staff, all other staff involved in the Prevention@EMU program are certified in evidence-based curriculum and work with certified prevention specialists.
