Westport Group to Share in $6 Million State Mental Health Grant

WESTPORT, CT — Positive Directions, a Westport-based mental health services provider, will receive $137,102 from a $6 million state grant to help prevent underage drinking and prescription drug abuse, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy announced Tuesday.

Located at 420 Post Road West in Westport, near the Norwalk border, Positive Directions has provided mental health services since 1971, and serves several surrounding communities.

“By partnering with communities, we can broaden our efforts to educate youths about the dangers of underage drinking and prescription drug abuse, save the lives of those who may be suffering from addiction, and even prevent it before it has the opportunity to take hold,” said Malloy in a statement. “This funding will help save lives.”

Added Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, commissioner of the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, “One of the best ways to address addiction is by preventing it. These funds will give communities a chance to implement a data-driven, public health approach to prevent underage drinking and prescription drug abuse in adolescents and young adults.”

The funds come from part of a competitive grant awarded to the state by the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Connecticut was awarded $8.2 million to implement the Partnership for Success Grant by funding community-level agencies in medium and large-sized urban areas that demonstrate a need to utilize strategies known to be effective in reducing youth alcohol and prescription drug use rates. The eight communities were selected through a competitive process based on their ability to address youth alcohol and prescription drug abuse/misuse with a focus on reducing health disparities.

The following community agencies will receive funding each year over the next five years:

• Positive Directions, Westport (Region 1) – $137,102
• Town of East Hampton (Region 2) – $150,000
• City of Norwich, Human Services (Region 3) – $138,094
• Klingberg Family Centers, New Britain (Region 4) – $183,004
• Town of Manchester (Region 4) – $149,616
• The Village for Families & Children, Vernon (Region 4) – $149,849
• Institute for Community Research, West Hartford (Region 4) – $152,335
• McCall, Colebrook, New Hartford, Barkhamsted, Norfolk, Winsted (Region 5) – $150,000

The awardees will receive training and technical assistance from existing state resources to strengthen their prevention services by implementing SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework in their respective communities. A State Epidemiological and Outcomes Workgroup will review and analyze behavioral health data and use the results to guide decision making. Researchers at the University of Connecticut Health Center will be responsible for the grant evaluation.

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