The mission of the Northampton Prevention Coalition is to collaboratively initiate, coordinate, and sustain prevention and intervention efforts that reduce youth substance use and abuse within the City of Northampton.

Our vision is that Northampton be a place where youth, parents and the community collaborate effectively to be an alcohol and drug-free community for our youth, and to promote positive youth development. Northampton includes people and organizations with diverse perspectives, interests and responsibilities. Reducing youth substance abuse is our collective responsibility. Together we will implement strategies that have been proven to reduce youth substance use and abuse, and create a local culture in which youth substance use is considered a serious and unacceptable problem.

In January, 2008, the county-wide coalition, SPIFFY, convened a group of Northampton stakeholders to review PNA Youth Survey data for Northampton. This group recognized that a Northampton-focused coalition was necessary to adequately address the scope of substance abuse issues facing Northampton’s youth. A Northampton Task Force (which became the Northampton Prevention Coalition) was launched from this initial meeting, and spent the next 18 months assessing community buy-in, collecting data, and developing a strategic plan for the Northampton Prevention Coalition. The Coalition also began developing and implementing projects such as the parent social norms campaign, Prom and Graduation Season Proclamation, compliance checks of liquor retailers, Safe Homes Directory and PhotoVoice assessment. In October 2010 we were awarded a 5 year, $125,000 per year grant from the Drug Free Communities Support Program.

We serve all youth in the City of Northampton whether they live, work or go to school here. We work with people from all sectors of the community to achieve our mission, especially:

Glenn Johnson
Coordinator
Northampton Prevention Coalition
Florence Community Center
140 Pine St., Room 22
Florence, MA 01062
gjohnson@northampton-k12.us
Phone: 413-587-1157
Fax: 413-587-1157 (call first)

http://northamptonprevents.org/

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NPCprevents

We’d love to hear from you.