---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 11841"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "11841"
heading: "Community youth activity program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/11841"
units:
  - "Chapter 123 — Drug Abuse Education and Prevention"
  - "Subchapter III — Community Program"
---

# §11841. Community youth activity program

- (a) **Block grant program—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Health and Human Services shall make grants to eligible [States](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) to enable such [States](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) to carry out the activities described in [subsection (e)](#e).
- (b) **Application—**
  - (1) **In general—** To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), acting on its own behalf or on behalf of a person, shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) an application that contains such information and is in such form as may be required by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Demonstration of need—** In the application submitted under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) shall demonstrate a need for the activities described in [subsection (e)](#e) and provide a description of those activities and [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) that will receive financial assistance from a grant made under this section to the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14).
- (c) **Amount of grant—**
  - (1) **Minimum amount—** Each [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) that submits for a fiscal year an application under [subsection (b)](#b) that meets the requirements of the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, receive a grant in an amount determined in accordance with [paragraph (3)](#c-3).
  - (2) **Programs of national significance—** Of amounts appropriated or otherwise available to carry out this section for any fiscal year, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall reserve 5 percent to be provided for activities and [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) of national significance or [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) expected to have a significant impact in preventing the abuse of [drugs](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) by youth.
  - (3) **Specified appropriations—**
    - (A) **In general—** Of the aggregate amount appropriated under [subsection (g)](#g) for any fiscal year and after reserving the amount required by [paragraph (2)](#c-2), the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall—
      - (i) allot—
        - (I) 25 percent equally among the eligible [States](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) if such amount is less than $40,000,000; or
        - (II) $250,000 to each eligible [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) if such amount equals or exceeds $40,000,000;
      - (ii) allot one-half of 1 percent of such amount on the basis of need among Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United States, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; and
      - (iii) set aside the remainder to be disbursed as described in [subparagraph (B)](#c-3-B).

      For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “[State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14)” does not include Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United States, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

    - (B) **Remainder—** Amounts referred to in [subparagraph (A)(iii)](#c-3-A-iii) shall be used by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) to make grants, on a competitive basis and taking into consideration with respect to the [States](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14)—
      - (i) the highest proportions of school-aged youth are[^1] at risk of [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) abuse;
      - (ii) if a tangible need has been identified by the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) involved; and
      - (iii) if the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) involved has proposed the funding of additional [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) targeted at the areas of highest need;

      to carry out the activities and [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) that are consistent with the activities described in [subsection (e)(1)](#e-1). The activities and [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) for which such grants are made shall be selected by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) from among proposed activities and [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) by the [States](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14). Such grants shall be made to the [States](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) for redistribution to the persons on whose behalf the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) submitted an application under [subsection (b)](#b).

- (d) **Priority—** In making grants under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall give priority to—
  - (1) [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) aimed at youth who are not in school or who are at risk of dropping out of school;
  - (2) [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) that seek to reinvolve dropouts in educational programs, involve youth community-based activities, develop training or employment opportunities for dropouts, or provide youth with alternatives to [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) abuse;
  - (3) [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to provide after-school, vacation, and weekend activities designed to give youth opportunities to actively participate in a variety of activities, including youth sports programs;
  - (4) activities and [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) that are consistent with activities and [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) described in [subsection (e)(1)](#e-1) and that include participation by the business community;
  - (5) [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) that provide outreach to individuals of all ages who are at high risk of involvement with [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) abuse;
  - (6) [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) targeted to communities with the most serious [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) abuse problems to enable such communities to develop programs that coordinate Federal, [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), and local efforts to develop comprehensive, long-term, community-wide prevention and education strategies;
  - (7) [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) that seek to involve youth who are members of gangs or who may join a gang, in—
    - (A) educational programs;
    - (B) community-based activities;
    - (C) training or employment opportunities; or
    - (D) other alternatives to gang involvement;
  - (8) programs for unsupervised children before and after school, including—
    - (A) education and instruction consistent with part A of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [[20 U.S.C. 7101](/usc/20/7101.md) et seq.];
    - (B) athletic activities;
    - (C) creative activities; and
    - (D) other programs designed to reduce the risk of [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) abuse; and
  - (9) [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) that seek to inform youth regarding the existence and operation of the [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) referred to in [paragraph (7)](#d-7).
- (e) **Activities and projects—** Financial assistance may be provided with a grant received under [subsection (a)](#a)[^2] under this section by a [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) as follows:
  - (1) **Community services and partnerships—** Such assistance may be provided for community services and partnerships designed to develop community activities targeted at [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) abuse prevention through education, training, and recreation [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2). Such services may be provided by, and such partnerships may be entered into with—
    - (A) local educational [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1);
    - (B) law enforcement [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1);
    - (C) community-based organizations;
    - (D) community action [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1);
    - (E) local or [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) recreational departments; or
    - (F) business organizations; and

    in consultation with local and [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) health departments and with community health or mental health centers when appropriate. Such assistance may be provided to any entity described in subparagraphs [(A)](#e-1-A) through [(F)](#e-1-F), either individually or in partnerships. Applications for such assistance shall include a description of the method to be used to evaluate the impact the particular service or partnership is designed to have on the [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) abuse problem within the community.

  - (2) **Other activities and projects—** Such assistance may be provided to carry out [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) or activities that are consistent with the activities and [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) described in [paragraph (1)](#e-1).
- (f) **Project evaluations—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall provide for the evaluation of activities and [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) conducted with financial assistance received under this section. Applications for grants under this section shall include a description of the method to be used in evaluating the impact such activities and programs have on the [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) abuse problem within the communities in which such activities and [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) are carried out.
- (g) **Authorization of appropriations—** To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $40,000,000 for fiscal year 1989, $55,000,000 for fiscal year 1990, $60,000,000 for fiscal year 1991, $66,550,000 for fiscal year 1992, and $73,205,000 for fiscal year 1993.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “who are”.
[^2]: So in original. Words “under subsection (a)” probably should not appear.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–690, title III, § 3521, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4258; Pub. L. 101–93, § 4(1), Aug. 16, 1989, 103 Stat. 611; Pub. L. 101–226, § 23, Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1941; Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 394(b), Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 4027; Pub. L. 105–285, title II, § 202(d), Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2755; Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(k), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2168.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (d)(8)(A), is Pub. L. 89–10, Apr. 11, 1965, 79 Stat. 27. Part A of title IV of the Act is classified generally to part A (§ 7101 et seq.) of subchapter IV of chapter 70 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6301 of Title 20 and Tables.

### Amendments

2015—Subsec. (d)(8)(A). Pub. L. 114–95 substituted “education and instruction consistent with part A of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965” for “education and instruction consistent with title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965”.

1998—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 105–285 struck out “, such as activities authorized by section 9910(a)(2)(F) of this title,” after “national significance”.

1994—Subsec. (d)(8)(A). Pub. L. 103–382 substituted “title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965” for “the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986”.

1989—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 101–93, § 4(1)(A), substituted “subsection (e)” for “subsections (c)(3)(B) and (e)”.

Subsec. (c)(3)(A). Pub. L. 101–93, § 4(1)(B), substituted “subsection (g)” for “subsection (h)”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–226, which directed amendment of section 3521(d) of the National Narcotics Leadership Act of 1988 by adding par. (8) and redesignating former par. (8) as (9), was executed to section 3521(d) of Pub. L. 100–690, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, as the probable intent of Congress. Subtitle A (§§ 1001–1012) of title I of Pub. L. 100–690 is the National Narcotics Leadership Act of 1988.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education.

### Executive Documents

### Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.