Matt Young, HowardCenter’s Supervisor of Street Outreach, and HowardCenter will receive the Organization / Individual Program Award by the Burlington Partnership for a Healthy Community’s “Roots of Prevention Awards Ceremony” on April 12. BPHC, a coalition of agencies focused on the prevention of substance abuse, announced the awards.
According to the Partnership, the Organization / Individual Program Award is given to a community member or an organization who has “worked consistently in the area of educating our community about the importance of substance abuse prevention.”
Bob Wolford, Coordinator of Offender Services at HowardCenter, describes Young’s work: ”This past summer, I was on Church Street and I had the opportunity to observe Matt as he approached an individual whose behavior was erratic. Matt’s relaxed demeanor makes it easy for many fragile and vulnerable people to talk to him. He inspires me by the work he does and how he performs his work. He is able to remain receptive to everyone from all walks of life while maintaining his professionalism. Matt well deserves this award for maintaining this difficult balance.”
HowardCenter’s Street Outreach Team provides a range of outreach and support services for individuals in and around the downtown Burlington business district. Services are primarily focused on people with psychiatric disabilities and individuals dealing with substance abuse, homelessness, and other unmet social service needs.