**Kuster is a fierce advocate for an expansive, all-of-government response to the mental health and substance use disorder epidemic **

Milford, N.H. — Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) visited the Souhegan Valley Boys & Girls Club to discuss the Club’s initiatives and her efforts to support the Community Action for Safe Teens Coalition (CAST) and secure Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant funding. Kuster, founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, sent a letter on behalf of the Boys & Girls Club in support of their DFC funding application for the next five years to further their efforts to address substance use among teens in New Hampshire. 

“It is critically important that we instill in our younger generation the dangers of substance use and prevent addiction before it happens. The Souhegan Valley Boys & Girls Club is a critical partner in that work here in New Hampshire,” said Kuster. “It was wonderful to meet with their leadership team to discuss their work to prevent teen substance use and highlight my support for their efforts. I will continue working to ensure organizations like Souhegan Valley Boys & Girls Club have the tools and support they need to make sure families and youth across New Hampshire can thrive.”

“We greatly appreciate Congresswoman Kuster’s continued support and commitment to addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which may contribute to physical and mental health challenges later in life. The well-being of our youth and families is paramount to a healthy community. Providing youth with a safe environment to learn, play, and grow while mitigating ACEs is the number one priority of the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley,” said CEO Mike White, BGCSV 

The Community Action for Safe Teens Coalition (CAST) was founded in 2004 to support prevention programs for New Hampshire youth and connect with parents struggling to handle teen substance abuse. CAST supports and provides prevention programs to community residents and is focused on promoting healthy lifestyles among youth and educating and supporting their families. 

Kuster has been supportive of the Club’s initiatives to prevent substance misuse among New Hampshire youth and has written letters of support on their behalf, petitioning for DFC grant funding. In 2018, the CAST Coalition was awarded $625,000 over a five-year period under the Drug-Free Communities Grant program to fund their initiatives. Just this week, Kuster wrote a letter in support of the continuation of this funding to ensure the Souhegan Valley Boys & Girls Club can carry on their important work.

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