POW Health Network awarded grant for youth programs

Prevention programs for youth on Prince of Wales Island will get a $900,000 boost from the federal government over the next three years.

The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium announced Monday that the Prince of Wales Health Network has been awarded $300,000 annually for three years from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Rural Health Network Development division.

The grant will be used to start a program that will engage youth to inspire other young POW residents to make healthy choices, in hopes of reducing substance abuse, domestic violence and suicide.

The POW health network includes SEARHC, PeaceHealth, Craig Public Health Center, Community Connections and Whale Tail Pharmacy.