Milford-based Bridges Healthcare, Inc. has been awarded the Strategic Prevention Framework Partnerships for Success grant through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The grant will provide the regional group with $300,000 per year for five years. This was the only prevention coalition region in Connecticut to be awarded with this year’s round of funding.
The SPF-PFS program will work to create a sustainable prevention infrastructure and strategies/activities in five neighboring communities: Milford, Orange, West Haven, Bethany and Woodbridge. The program will target excessive use of alcohol, growing use of electronic cigarettes and high levels of depression and anxiety which have been shown to have a “multiplier effect” on substance use. It will focus on students in grades 7-12 in the region – a population of over 8,000. More than 13,000 students will receive services over the lifetime of the project.
The program builds on the experience of the Milford Prevention Council and the support of a variety of community organizations and leaders in all five towns. MPC has achieved reductions in the use of alcohol and marijuana in Milford exceeding 60 percent over the past 10 years. Wendy Gibbons led the MPC for eight of those years and will be leading this new initiative.
“We are proud to partner with these cities to help families prevent substance use and address mental health concerns,” said Jennifer Fiorillo, Bridges’ president and CEO. “The development of these community coalitions will drive much needed strategies that will address the reasons for and consequences of binge drinking, vaping, and related mental health concerns.”
