Windham county prevention partnership - descriptive title of applicant project: windham county prevention partnership strategic prevention framework initiative project abstract: the strategic…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Interaction, Inc. (operating as Youth Services) $1.739 million under the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Projects of Regional and National Significance grant program on September 30, 2025, to implement the Windham County Prevention Partnership Strategic Prevention Framework Initiative.

The award funds a trauma-informed, comprehensive prevention initiative in Windham County, Vermont, targeting youth and young adults. The specific deliverables include implementing evidence-based strategies to reduce cannabis use and prescription drug misuse in community and school settings, increasing prevention infrastructure through capacity building to serve rural and low-income populations, and expanding support to reduce mental health indicators and substance use among LGBTQ+ youth. The initiative employs information dissemination, education, alternatives, policy change, identification and referral, and community-based processes. The program anticipates serving 39,705 individuals annually across Windham County, which comprises 70.94 percent rural area with a population of 45,966.

Performance occurs in Brattleboro, Vermont. The period of performance runs from September 30, 2025, through September 29, 2030.

Windham county prevention partnership - descriptive title of applicant project: windham county prevention partnership strategic prevention framework initiative project abstract: the strategic prevention framework-partnership for success (SPF-PFS) grant will support windham county prevention partnership (wcpp) to implement a trauma-informed, comprehensive initiative in windham county (WC) vermont. The primary goals are: 1) increase the prevention infrastructure in windham county through capacity building to better serve rural and low SES communities; 2) reduce WC youth & young adult cannabis use by implementing evidence-based strategies within the community and school districts that address behaviors that may lead to the initiation and continuation of use; 3) decrease WC youth & young adult prescription misuse by implementing evidence-based strategies within the community and school districts that address behaviors that may lead to the initiation and continuation of use; and 4) increase support to reduce mental health indicators and substance use among LGB youth. As defined by the 2021 census, windham county (WC) is 70.94% rural. Located in south-eastern vermont, the population of WC is 45,966. Due to its rural nature, WC is defined as an underserved community. Data provided details higher prevalence of both cannabis and prescription drug use among rural WC youth and young adults, low SES and the LGB population. Wcpp will utilize a comprehensive approach including information dissemination, education, alternatives, policy change, ID and referral and community-based processes. This project will engage the strategic prevention framework to address our community prevention/mental health promotion priorities through assessment, capacity building, community planning, delivering services, and evaluating outcomes. We anticipate serving 39,705 annually.