In June 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a site visit with Impact Norwood to give us an opportunity to showcase the accomplishments we achieved in the five-years we've received federal funding.

Additionally, it provided our CDC Project Officer with an in-depth opportunity to learn from program staff, volunteers, and stakeholders about the coalition's history, operations, and community relationships. The aim was to understand how Impact Norwood implemented the Strategic Prevention Framework as the approach to preventing substance use in our community. Our CDC Project Officer is currently synthesizing their findings for the purpose of informing recommended steps to continue growing Impact Norwood.

Although Impact Norwood began in 2014, the coalition received DFC funding in September 2017. Since that point, the Impact Norwood Coalition has accomplished many milestones, some of which include:

• Reduced youth marijuana, alcohol, and electronic vape use
• Maintained the same Program Director for the 5-year grant period
• Created an excellent network of partners and stakeholders who have a vested interest in reducing youth substance use in the community
• Established the Youth Ambassador Program at Norwood Middle School and Norwood High School, which continues to thrive
• Hired Youth Leaders to facilitate Youth Ambassador meetings to ensure our program is youth-driven and youth-led
• Created, developed, and hosted a variety of events including: 
• “Free, Fun Fridays” were held to provide Norwood Middle School students with an alternative, drug free event that gave them an opportunity to enjoy time with peers through games, food and a variety of activities in a safe and positive environment.  
• Celebrated the numerous cultures in the community by hosting the Norwood World Cup and Cultural Celebration. This event united different cultures in Norwood through music, food, presentations, and culminated with a world cup soccer game
• Annual community games tournaments to provide an opportunity for youth to build positive relationships with a variety of leaders and adults in the community
• Volunteered at numerous events in Norwood to showcase Impact Norwood 
• Hosted several prominent speakers including:
• Ivy Watts, Mental Health Empowerment Speaker
• Dr. Jason Kilmer, Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the University of Washington School of Medicine 
• Kelsey Massis, RD, LDN, MBA - Resident Dietitian - Food Services Department at Norwood Public Schools
• Shine Bright Workshops
• Sejal Prajapati, PsyD
• Teresa Stewart, MS, MPH - Infant/Child/Family Sleep Consultant; Child Development Specialist
• Kikkan Randall, 5x Olympian
• Julie Cullen, MSW, Ed.M
• Alex Berenson, author of Tell Your Children the Truth about Marijuana, Mental Illness and Violence. This workshop was offered to increase the community’s perception of the potential harmful effects of marijuana use
• Increased community capacity and continued to bolster the importance of a community-centered approach
• Lastly, there were a variety of other activities implemented by the coalition, including drug take back days, compliance checks, TIPs training, social host law education, and a substance focused community cleanup

While this list is not exhaustive of all we've accomplished, we hope it serves as a reminder that we can continue to prevent youth substance use TOGETHER.

Impact Norwood Coalition meetings will restart soon!

Be on the look-out for information in the coming weeks.

Our goal is to get back to in-person meetings as long as it is safe to do so! 

Please contact any of the staff or volunteers listed below with any

Impact Norwood related questions or concerns.

For general questions, please contact health@norwoodma.gov.

We'd love to hear from you!