Youth Substance Abuse Initiative (YSAI)
General Information
About the Initiative
In 2004, the MetroWest Community Health Foundation designated youth substance abuse prevention and intervention as a major priority. Massachusetts' rates of youth alcohol and marijuana use were among the highest in the nation. In 2005, MetroWest offered communities in it's region the opportunity to receive grant funding to:
· Prevent substance abuse, including alcohol, among middle and high school students
· Provide effective identification of those at greatest risk of abuse and addiction; and
· Improve access to substance abuse treatment
The first five communities to receive the three year grant were: Framingham, Hopkinton, Milford/Bellingham, Needham and Wayland. In 2006, five additional communities were funded: Ashland, Holliston, Hopedale, Medfield and Natick. Each community hired a coordinator who will work with new and existing coalitions to identify and implement a plan of action that will work best for their community efforts to address the issues of youth substance abuse.
For more information about the initiative, contact:
Erica Dinerman, M.Ed
Coordinator, Youth Substance Abuse Initiative
edinerman@natickps.org
ph. 508-647-6623
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