A Healthy Lynnfield Substance Use Prevention Coalition
What We Do
A Healthy Lynnfield engages town departments, residents, school, parents, youth, the faith community, local governments, businesses, civic organizations and health professionals in an effort to promote health and reduce factors that contribute to substance misuse in our community.
Our efforts include:
- Substance misuse prevention education
- Enhancing opportunities for young people to lead on this issue through our Lynnfield High School Youth Council and our Healthy Lynnfield Middle School Club.
- Working with public safety and public health to ensure lives are saved and referrals are made for treatment and family support
- Working with health care and behavioral health partners to ensure resources are accessible
- Reducing stigma associated with this disease
Reaching Youth Where they Are
In partnership with Lynnfield Public Schools, we work to review school-based health policy, implement social emotional supports for all students, provide education for parents on factors that put youth at risk for substance misuse, and teach integrated health and social emotional curriculum. These strategies help prevent early use and keep young people healthy.
Accomplishments
Here are some things we've brought to the community.
- Sponsor Interface, a free, confidential mental health help and referral line to provide easy access to outpatient mental health counseling and other resources. See our Treatment page.
- Annual National Recovery Event with the Think of Michale Foundation.
- Extensive training and professional development for those that work with youth, e.g. Mental Health First Aid and suicide prevention with coaches, teachers, afterschool program staff, clergy.
- Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Community Survey, and Focus Groups to assess and prioritize Lynnfield's needs in partnership with John Snow Inc., and Social Science Research & Evaluation
- Student assemblies and speakers for youth on substance use and mental health topics.
- Arive Alive Driving Simultor to experience the dangers of texting, dringking or using marijuana while driving for high school students.
- Parent Education Series-Healthy Converations, Healthy Kids--topics vary each year.
- Guiding Good Choices skills-based program for elementary and middle school parents.
- In Plain Sight-Interactive Display of what parents might find in their teen’s room that indicates risk of substance misuse.
- Support health and social emotional curriculum in Lynnfield Public Schools to address students’ health and social emotional needs.
- The adoption of a policy and training for school nurses to be able administer Naloxone.
- Collaboration with the Fire Department and Rotary for a Senior Safety outreach program that includes free prescription drug lock boxes.
- Supporting the policy, training, and implementtion of Narcan admistration in the school department, and free distribution through the health department.
- Annual Community Healthy Living Expo co-sponsored by the Wakefield-Lynnfield Chamber of Commerce
