ST. JOHNSBURY - Northern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) was awarded $125,000 to support healthy choices and prevent substance misuse in caledonia and southern Essex counties.
This drug-free community support program grant which was awarded by the white house office of national drug control policy is worth $125,000 per year for the next five years, totaling $625,000.
NVRH Chaplain Abby Pollender says,"Collaboration is key for coalitions to get traction and to really inspire change. Community-level change doesn't happen in isolated pockets, it takes a variety of skill sets and perspectives."
NVRH plans to use these funds to reduce substance use among youth and adults. They will do this by addressing factors in the community that promote substance use. To manage these funds NVRH substance misuse prevention services hired Tina Plezak as the substance misuse prevention coordinator. Plezak says, "It has always been my passion to help others and to serve the community with respect, openness, and most importantly, compassion. I am very much looking forward to focusing on the prevention of substance misuse in this new role."