Tuesday, April 29, 2025
4/29/2025
Northeast Prevention Coalition Serving Caledonia and Southern Essex Counties - The Northeast Prevention Coalition (NPC) is administered by the Prevention Services of the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH). Located in rural northeastern Vermont, the Coalition serves the 22 towns and villages of Caledonia County and ten towns and villages in southern Essex County. NPC’s service area is located, in what is colloquially known as the Northeast Kingdom, bordering New Hampshire and the province of Quebec. It is the poorest and most rural part of the state. Interstate 91 is the major north-south route, providing direct access from Canada to Connecticut. The area has four Supervisory Unions (administrative units consisting of two or more school districts) and two private high schools. NPC is proposing to: a) expand and strengthen its coalition; and b) implement community-wide, environmental interventions designed to reduce substance use among the area’s youth. The area’s total population of 33,867 (30,576 Caledonia and 3,291 southern Essex county) or 5.4% of Vermont’s population. St. Johnsbury (pop. 7,451) is the region’s town in the area and serves as the region’s economic, social and political hub. Three-fifths of Caledonia County and 100% of Essex County are rural compared to 61.1% of the state and 19.2% of the nation. Approximately one-fifth 20.1% of the population is under the age of 18, with approximately 4,406 youth 10-19 years old. Half (50.1%) of the total population are male, 49.9% are female. The region, reflecting the state, is overwhelmingly White (95.2%). It is estimated that 5.2% of Vermont’s population identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgender, seventh highest in the country (The Williams Inst. UCLA 2019). Earning a livable wage in Caledonia and Essex counties is challenging with each county’s median household income being $47,371 and $38,767 respectively—well below the state ($57,808) and nation ($57,652). One-in-eight (12.5%) individuals in the service area live below the Federal Poverty Level, compared to 11.4% (VT) and 14.6% (U.S.); one-third (34.5%) live 200% FPL compared to 28.3% (VT) and 32.8% (U.S.). (All data, US Census, Am. Com Survey, 2013-2017) The unemployment rate (12/19) for Caledonia and Essex Counties was 2.6% and 3.0% respectively compared to 2.1% for the state (VT. Dept. Labor). Though Vermont has a high graduation rate of 92.6%, one of our four high schools (Blue Mountain) has one of the lowest graduation rates in the state: 79%. Furthermore, in 2017, statewide, approximately 15% of all youth under the age of 18 lived in food insecure households (Hunger Free Vermont), while in Essex County 18.6% and in Caledonia County 16.7% (Niche) of all youth under the age of 18 lived in food insecure households. And without doubt, households that are food insecure are stressful environments for children. Established in January, 2017, NPC began as a prevention subcommittee of the Drug Abuse Resistance Team which formed in 2000 as grass roots movement in greater St. Johnsbury. In January of 2017, the prevention committee was formed into NPC, a community coalition that represents all 12 sectors of the communities in Caledonia and southern Essex Counties in support of healthy choices and is dedicated to preventing substance use, misuse, and abuse for all ages. Mirroring the state and country, over the past 10 – 15 years there had been a general decline in the use of alcohol and drugs. Yet significant problems continue to exist, e.g. two-fifths of high students reported using marijuana ten or more times during the past 30 days; one-in-six reported binge drinking. Contributing factors include legalization of adult marijuana uses and a general tolerance of under-age drinking. Exacerbating the situation is inconsistent law enforcement across the region. Some of the towns have their own police force, but most rely on county or state police. As a result, local interventions are very difficult to implement. Rural Isolation is a major contributing factor.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).