When the Bureau of Prevention within NH's Dept. of Health & Human Services received an $11 million 5-year federal grant to regionalize how prevention services for alcohol abuse are provided to children and teens around the state, it created 10 regional coalitions to accomplish the task. The greater Nashua region is one of those coalitions, with the United Way of Greater Nashua acting as fiscal agent and home for a full-time Coalition Coordinator and part-time Evaluator.
Suzanne was invited to serve on the coalition's governing body, the Oversight Board, and she also accepted the role of chairing the Board. The Board will ultimately provide grant awards to organizations in the region and provide oversight and accountability to the region's grantees. The initial effort of the Board and a membership group of providers and interested parties will target youths ages 12-17 and young adults 19-34.
Included in the greater Nashua coalition are Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Lyndeborough, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, Nashua, Pelham and Wilton. The coalition brings together people representing the schools, police, the courts, the liquor commission, organizations for kids--such as The Boys and Girls Club and Big Brothers, Big Sisters--and other relevant stakeholders.