Vermont Business Magazine The Regional Prevention Partnerships (RPP) of the Northeast Kingdom, which includes Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) Prevention Services, was recognized as the 2019 Vermont Prevention Champion by Vermont Governor Phil Scott on Wednesday, May 2 at a statehouse ceremony. The recognition was for the ongoing collaborative work in the Northeast Kingdom regarding substance use and misuse.
In addition to NVRH RPP Coordinator Cheryl Chandler and Prevention Specialist Tennyson Marceau, the award recognizes the RPP of Newport at Northeast Kingdom Learning Services (NEKLS). Together, these RPPs serve Orleans, Caledonia and Essex counties. The grants are a customized regional response to reduce alcohol and drug use among adolescents, teens and young adults in collaboration with State of Vermont Department of Health and local community partners.
NVRH Prevention Services and NEKLS Prevention Services also hold a Tobacco Prevention Grant, which has been aligned with their respective RPP grants and aims to educate all on the risks of tobacco/e-cigarette use and advocate for policies to decrease tobacco initiation, secondhand smoke, and tobacco marketing exposure.
NVRH Prevention Services's Cheryl Chandler (second to left) receives the 2019 Vermont Prevention Champion Award from Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, Commissioner of Health Dr. Mark Levine, and Director of Drug Prevention Policy Jolinda H. LaClair during a ceremony at the statehouse on Vermont Prevention Day.
"We are recognizing the NEK RPP because of how quickly and effectively you created capacity to do prevention in your region. You went from 0 to 60 with your strategies and organizing," Prevention Works Vermont Coordinator Lori Augustyniak said regarding their work, nomination, and award. "Prior to the RPP, there was no established coalition in the region, and you have established three new coalitions, did lots of policy work, have such a strong partnership with NVRH and much more."
To learn more about NVRH Prevention Services, contact RPP Coordinator Cheryl Chandler at 802-748-7555.
Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital is located in St. Johnsbury in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. We are a community, not-for-profit, acute care, critical access hospital. NVRH is one of two Vermont hospitals designated as a Baby FriendlyTM hospital by the United Nations. The organization provides primary and preventive care, surgical and specialty services, inpatient and outpatient care and 24-hour, physician-staffed emergency services. NVRH serves more than 30,000 people in the Caledonia and Southern Essex Counties in Vermont and employs 600.
Source: ST. JOHNSBURY, VT. (May 6, 2019) – NVRH