Kansas organizations receive money to combat underage drinking and marijuana use

The state is giving money to 17 organizations around the state – two in Sedgwick County – to prevent underage drinking and youth marijuana use.

In total, the organizations will receive $580,000.

An organization in Wichita called Safe Streets, which works to stop violence and crime through neighborhood involvement in Planeview, El Pueblo and Historic Midtown, will receive $50,000, according to a news release from the state.

Haysville Healthy Habits, an educational group that meets monthly, will receive $35,000.

The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services awarded the money as part of the Kansas Prevention Collaborative Community Initiative.

Tim Keck, secretary of the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, said in the state’s written statement that the grants would help organizations use data to better understand risk factors, such as adverse childhood experiences, divorce, poverty and low educational achievement.

The statement said the grants can help communities with suicide, problem gambling and depression as well.

This story was originally published August 17, 2016 at 1:55 PM with the headline "Kansas organizations receive money to combat underage drinking and marijuana use."