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Hampden‑Wilbraham youth coalition seeks local support as grant funding ends
Summary
The Hampden‑Wilbraham Partners for Youth Coalition told the Wilbraham Advisory Board of Health that its primary grant funding is ending and the director will seek a no‑cost extension; the coalition requested local help to sustain youth prevention programs and its monthly newsletter.
Jackie Hafner, M.Ed., LSWA, community engagement and communications coordinator for the Hampden‑Wilbraham Partners for Youth Coalition (HWP4Y), told the Wilbraham Advisory Board of Health on March 12 that the coalition’s grant funding is coming to an end and the director will apply for a no‑cost extension to use unspent funds while a longer‑term decision is made this summer.
Hafner said the coalition — staffed by a director, a part‑time administrative assistant and herself (30 hours/week) — is supported by grants including Drug Free Communities, MHAT and the STOP Act and operates prevention activities across the Hampden‑Wilbraham school district. She told board members the coalition distributes a monthly newsletter that reaches about 450 people and maintains social media channels and a website with educational resources.
HWP4Y runs or helps coordinate the annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey to guide prevention work, assists with SBIRT health screenings for one middle‑school and one high‑school grade, offers Youth Mental Health First Aid training for adults, provides therapeutic mentoring for vulnerable students, and coordinates a school‑based pantry and holiday support for families. Hafner identified advocacy at the State House, participation in Healthy Kids Day and partnerships with the police and local service organizations among the coalition’s activities.
The coalition’s immediate needs, Hafner said, include sustainable funding, program support for youth engagement and ambassador programs, therapeutic mentoring, and financial support to produce and distribute the monthly newsletter via Constant Contact. She said the director will apply for a no‑cost extension of current grants and that a decision this summer will determine whether the coalition can maintain its present structure.
Ryan Paxton, health director for Eastern Hampden Shared Public Health Services, asked whether regionalization might be an opportunity; Hafner said Longmeadow currently has remaining grant funding and partnerships that could inform regional approaches.
The Advisory Board of Health discussed the request during open discussion and noted the need to consider town‑level support for specific line items such as the newsletter contract. The board did not take a formal vote on funding at the March 12 meeting; the director’s extension request and any local funding decisions will be resolved in the coming months.
