Southington STEPS Chief Named Top Prevention Pro In 2022

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Megan Albanese's job is to oversee the Town of Southington's agency charged with keeping local kids safe and drug- and substance-free.

And in 2022, nobody did their job better than Albanese, who was recently named the 2022 "Prevention Professional of the Year" by the Connecticut Association of Prevention Professionals.

Handed out at the end of November, Albanese's honor was also discussed at Southington's school board meeting in December.

Albanese is the STEPS Prevention Coordinator for the municipal, nonprofit agency tasked with working with local schools in various substance prevention programs.

STEPS is an acronym for "Southington Town-wide Effort to Promote Success" and it oversees many drug and alcohol prevention programs with youths in town.

The work of STEPS, which also includes partnerships with the Southington Police Department, often brings them into schools to discuss the sometimes-difficult issues facing youngsters today.

For example, Albanese Dec. 19 was joined by Southington PD Det. Joseph Lopa for an alcohol-prevention program at Flanders Elementary School for that school's fifth-graders.

Work like that, along with coordinating other events and programs with schools, is why Albanese, who was hired in 2020, was honored.

"Megan was surprised with this special honor today by the CT Association of Prevention Professionals at their annual meeting. We can’t think of anyone more deserving," wrote STEPS via social media.

The Connecticut Association of Prevention Professionals, which awarded Albanese at its annual meeting in November, equally praised her.

"Megan Albanese from Southington STEPS Coalition received the special honor of the Prevention Professional of the Year award for her hard work and dedication to prevention," wrote the CAPP in a Facebook post.

For more information on Southington's STEPS Coalition, click on this link.

For more information on the Connecticut Association of Prevention Professionals, click on this link.

To listen to a Podcast featuring Albanese discussing prevention programs in Southington, click on this link.