FORE Doubles Down on Pine Ridge Youth Substance Use Prevention with $550K Grant

Event summary

  • FORE awarded $550,000 to Project Venture to expand Walking in Strength, a youth substance use prevention program on Pine Ridge Reservation.
  • The two-year grant builds on FORE’s 2022 investment, which initially launched the program serving 600 students.
  • Funding will expand the program to additional middle and high school students through experiential education.
  • Project Venture will partner with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center for Indigenous Health for evaluation and sustainability planning.

The big picture

FORE’s continued investment in Indigenous-led prevention strategies reflects a broader industry shift toward culturally informed solutions for opioid and overdose crises. The $550,000 grant underscores the foundation’s commitment to addressing disproportionate impacts on American Indian and Alaska Native communities, where adolescents face high rates of fatal overdose and adverse childhood experiences. This strategic focus aligns with FORE’s broader portfolio of grants aimed at strengthening community-based solutions in underserved populations.

What we're watching

Program Scalability
Whether Project Venture can sustain the expanded reach of Walking in Strength beyond the two-year grant period.
Cultural Integration
How effectively the program’s culturally grounded approach can be replicated in other Indigenous communities.
Impact Measurement
The pace at which evaluation findings demonstrate long-term reductions in substance use disorders among participants.