Bethel Nonprofit to Receive $125K for Substance Abuse Prevention

Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced Monday that over 20 Connecticut communities have been awarded grants by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to prevent youth substance abuse.

Bethel will receive $125,000 for the Housatonic Valley Coalition Against Substance Abuse, Inc. (HVCASA). The nonprofit is one of 17 Regional Action Councils (RAC) across the state.

Housatonic Valley Coalition Against Substance Abuse is a coalition of volunteers that strives to “help communities, families and individuals increase the positive attributes that stave off the harmful effects of alcohol tobacco and other drug use,” according to their website.

HVCASA serves the following towns: Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, Newtown, New Milford, Sherman, Ridgefield, Redding, New Fairfield, Bridgewater, Roxbury, Washington, Warren, Morris, Goshen, Litchfield, Kent, Sharon, Salisbury, Canaan, North Canaan, and Cornwall.

The grants total $2.7 million and will provide community coalitions with substance use prevention funding. The grants will support the state’s efforts to reduce crime, improve public safety and end the school-to-prison pipeline.

“When we were investing in permanent punishment, we should have been investing in permanent reform. When we were building modern jails, we should have been building modern schools. With Second Chance, we’ve transformed our direction so that we can end a cycle of crime that mires so many communities. Substance use and addiction are a disease and a crisis - and we should do everything possible to prevent addiction and treat people. It lowers crime, improves job creation, and it’s simply the right thing to do,” Governor Malloy said. “These grants will support the work that the state is doing at a local level and will strengthen our efforts to create a true Second Chance Society here in Connecticut.”

“These are important investments in our young people, our communities, and the very future of our state,” Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman said. “Strong partnerships are key to keeping our young people healthy and drug-free, to protecting their potential as citizens and as leaders. I applaud Governor Malloy’s commitment to our young people, and the many advocates and allies whose work is building a stronger state.”

“This funding supports all of the great work Connecticut has done to protect our young people and will help support vital community partnerships to curb youth substance abuse, beginning with the root causes that increase the risk of addiction and abuse,” the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation said in a joint statement. “We’d like to thank the White House for this support and are committed to continuing to advocate for additional support and services to keep our kids on the right track.”

The grant recipients are as follows:

• Andover/Hebron/Marlborough: $125,000 - Andover, Hebron, Marlborough Youth and Family Services, Andover/Hebron/Marlborough Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force
• Bethel: $125,000 - Housatonic Valley Coalition Against Substance Abuse, Inc.
• Bridgeport: $125,000 - GBAPP, Inc., Bridgeport United Coalition
• Durham/Middlefield: $125,000 - Durham/Middlefield Youth and Family Services, Durham/Middlefield DFC
• East Haddam: $125,000 - East Haddam Youth & Family Services, East Haddam Local Prevention Council
• Enfield: $125,000 - Town of Enfield
• Guilford: $125,000 - Town of Guilford, The Assets Steering Committee
• Hamden: $125,000 - Consultation Center, Inc., Hamden Positive Choices Coalition
• Ledyard: $125,000 - Ledge Light Health District, Ledyard Safe Teens Coalition
• Madison: $125,000 - Town of Madison, Madison Alcohol & Drug Education Coalition
• Meriden: $125,000 - Rushford Center, Meriden Healthy Youth Coalition
• Milford: $125,000 - Bridges, A Community Support System, Inc., Milford Prevention Council Coalition
• New London: $125,000 - City of New London, New London Community & Campus Coalition
• Norwich: $125,000 - Southeastern Regional Action Council on Substance Abuse, Inc.
• Plymouth: $125,000 - Plymouth Board of Education, Plymouth Local Prevention Council
• Putnam: $200,000 - Town of Putnam, Putnam Reduction in Drugs for Everyone (PRIDE)
• Southington: $125,000 - Southington Board of Education, Southington’s Town Wide Effort to Promote Success Coalition
• Stratford: $125,000 - Town of Stratford, Stratford Youth and Family Advisory Group
• Trumbull: $125,000 - Town of Trumbull, Trumbull Partnership Against Underage Drinking
• Windham: $125,000 - Town of Windham, Windham Substance Abuse Task Force
• Wolcott: $125,000 - Wolcott Board of Education, Wolcott Citizens Against Substance Abuse