Home
Programs
Center for Healthy Communities
Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch
Cannabis
Local Cannabis Education and Youth Prevention Request for Application (RFA) #26-10160

Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch

Local Cannabis Education and Youth Prevention Request for Application (RFA) #26-10160

The California Department of Public Health, Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch’s (CDPH-SAPB), Youth Cannabis Prevention Initiative (YCPI) is seeking applications from California county and city local health jurisdictions (LHJs) through this Request for Application to implement evidence based public health intervention and community-defined evidence practices that establish or expand local activities in the areas of substance use education, prevention, with a focus on cannabis prevention among California youth and young adults.

CDPH-SAPB will award funding to five local health jurisdictions to develop, implement, and evaluate cannabis education (optional: and other substances) and youth prevention activities in their communities. The anticipated contract period will be July 1, 2027- June 30, 2032, and each contract will be for up to $200,000 per year.

Projects must address the primary priority population of youth and young adults up to the age of 24 years old. Applicants may choose a specific age range based on their local needs. Projects can also include a secondary population, such as parents, guardians, caregivers, school staff and administrators, and other adults and community-based organizations, and leaders, who play a crucial role in the physical, social, and emotional health of youth and help strengthen protective factors of California’s youth and young adult populations.

To increase substance use prevention and education, with a focus on cannabis, throughout California, this RFA requires awardees to utilize the prescribed strategies found in Attachment D: Prescribed Scope of Work. The prescribed strategies are comprehensive, and the Applicant’s project proposal should integrate the following strategies:

Capacity building
Youth engagement and mobilization
Youth cannabis education
Alternative-to-suspension programs
Project operations

Tentative RFA Schedule:

Event	Date and Time Deadlines
RFA release	April 27, 2026
RFA informational webinar	May 11, 2026 @ 11:00am Pacific Time (PT)
Submit written questions	May 18, 2026@ 5:00pm PT
CDPH posts responses to questions	May 25, 2026@ 5:00pm PT
Mandatory Letter of Intent	June 5, 2026@ 5:00pm PT
Deadline to submit application	June 29, 2026@ 5:00pm PT
Notice of Intent to Award posted	August 28, 2026@ 5:00pm PT
Expected start date of contract	July 1, 2027
Expected end date of contract	June 30, 2032

How to Apply for this RFA

If you are interested in applying for this RFA, send an email to cannabis@cdph.ca.gov. Once we receive your email, the RFA and attachments will be sent to you.