WHAT IS PREVENTION?
Prevention means creating conditions that promote good health. It is achieved by reducing those factors that are known to cause illness and problem behaviors and encouraging those factors that buffer individuals and promote good health. Prevention promises a reduction in the incidence of new cases of illness and problem behavior. When properly done, a good preventive intervention is long lasting and focused on reducing vulnerability and enhancing wellness.
WHAT IS A LOCAL PREVENTION COUNCIL [LPC]?
The State of CT Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services [DMHAS] supports over 150 local, municipality-based alcohol, tobacco and other drug [ATOD] abuse prevention councils known as Local Prevention Councils [LPC's]. The LPC programs utilize at least two of the six Center for Substance Abuse Prevention [CSAP]-identified strategies in their community programs:
- information dissemination
- education
- community-based processes
- alternative programming
- environmental
- program identification and referral
The specific goals of the Local Prevention Councils are to increase local public awareness of ATOD prevention and facilitate the development and implementation of prevention initiatives & activities primarily focused on youth.
LPC's operate under Regional Behavioral Health Action Organizations [RBHAO's]. The RBHAOs are strategic community partners who work across the behavioral health field, and are responsible for a range of education, coordination, and advocacy of behavioral health services for children and adults throughout each of the regions.
The RBHAO for our greater region- Region 5- is Western Connecticut Coalition [WCTC]
Learn more about WCTC here:
https://www.wctcoalition.org/
