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Regional Youth Prevention Network
Who We Are
The mission of the Regional Youth Prevention Network is to create communities conducive to optimal social, emotional health and wellness for all youth by connecting direct service providers to close gaps and share prevention resources and best practices.
We meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 9:30 am to 10:30 am via Zoom. All community members are welcome to join!
Check out updates happening in the community by visiting the Regional Youth Prevention Network newsletter.
What We Do
The mission of the Gloucester Health Department Prevention Team is to reduce substance use and promote mental health awareness and access for youth and families in Gloucester. The Prevention Team focuses on upstream, early intervention to mitigate risk to prevent costly and serious health issues as residents age.
The Prevention Team oversees the Regional Youth Prevention Network, (RYPN), a robust youth substance use prevention coalition that has demonstrated leadership both locally and regionally and has a proven history of implementing successful community-wide prevention programs. The RYPN brings 14 years of leadership experience implementing the SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), implementing a comprehensive SPF assessment, planning, and capacity building process that has informed community-wide approaches to strengthen the prevention and reduction of alcohol and drug use among youth and young adults. The RYPN has begun to shift the culture of youth drinking and other drug use; however, continued efforts are needed to reduce underage substance use in the community. We are always looking for new members to join our coalition! If you are interested in joining or learning more, please use the Contact Us Form to reach out to Chelsea Goldstein-Walsh, Regional Prevention Director.
Our Regional Partners
● Rockport
● Essex
Gloucester Youth Leadership Council
The Gloucester Youth Leadership Council (GYLC) is the youth arm of the Regional Youth Prevention Network, a coalition based out of the Gloucester Health Department.
Mission: Create communities conducive to optimal social, emotional health and wellness for all youth by connecting direct service providers to close gaps and share prevention resources and best practices.
The GYLC is youth-led and will decide together on their strategies for social change. Participants receive quality training in leadership skills, social justice, civic action, public health and other topics, particularly those that pertain to teen health, prevention and positive youth development. In addition to making change in the community through civic action, peer-education, and community service, they will be charged with planning engaging events for young people to increase access to protective factors that can help decrease high-risk behaviors like substance-use and violence.
We are looking for more middle and high school students to join this great group! Want to get involved or learn more? Please reach out to David Tucker, Youth Development Coordinator, through our Contact Us Form.
Follow the Gloucester Youth Leadership Council on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gloucesteryouthleadership/