NEW GRANT FUNDING IS ON ITS WAY TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP PREVENT SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH. IT'S PART OF A STATEWIDE EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES THROUGH CONNECTION AND CARE. NBC5'S CHARLOTTE HANCOX EXPLAINS HOW THE UNITED WAY IS MAKING AN IMPACT AND WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING. MORE THAN 600 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN SUBGRANTS... GOING TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS VERMONT. THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, PART OF A BROADER PUSH TO PREVENT SUBSTANCE USE AND PROMOTE WELL-BEING. LEADERS SAY THE NEED WAS CLEAR AND SO WAS THE POTENTIAL FOR IMPACT. Mahat Abdullahi / Prevention Network Manager for United Way Northwest Vermont "there's a need for, for this type of work to be to be supported in a lot of ways. And one of those is funding. And that, that they specialize in the work. And so it's important to me because we, we partner with them in more ways, in more ways than one." THE GRANTS PRIORITIZE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT YOUTH, MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, AND RURAL AREAS... WITH A FOCUS ON CONNECTION. "The opposite of addiction is connection." AT THE GEORGIA PUBLIC LIBRARY... THAT CONNECTION COMES THROUGH ART, DISCUSSION, AND COMMUNITY. THE LIBRARY IS USING ITS GRANT TO RUN LGBTQ+ YOUTH PROGRAMMING... INCLUDING CREATIVE WORKSHOPS AND SUPPORT GROUPS FOR PARENTS. Bridget Stone / Library director at Georgia Public Library "The goal is to prevent substance abuse and to improve mental health markers in youth." THE PROGRAM INCLUDES BI-MONTHLY ART EVENTS LIKE JUNK JOURNALING AND GEL PRINTING... CREATING A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUTH TO GATHER. ORGANIZERS SAY THAT CONNECTION MATTERS, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS WHERE SUPPORT CAN BE HARD TO FIND. Bridget Stone / Library director at Georgia Public Library "they're welcome, that we all matter. We all belong here. And if we can help even one heart be easier, we will have succeeded." UNITED WAY LEADERS SAY BUILDING TRUST AND WORKING TOGETHER ARE AT THE HEART OF THIS EFFORT. Mahat Abdullahi / Prevention Network Manager for United Way Northwest Vermont "It's really important that we kind of come together as a community
Vermont organizations tackle substance misuse, with a focus on marginalized communities
The United Way of Vermont is distributing subgrants to 17 organizations that work with youth, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ communities to prevent substance misuse.
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Updated: 11:57 AM EDT Jun 16, 2025
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United Way of Northwest Vermont has announced more than $600,000 in subgrants to support substance misuse prevention efforts in the Burlington, St. Albans, and Barre health districts.The funding comes from the State of Vermont, Department of Health's Division of Substance Use Programs (DSU), and is part of the state’s relatively new framework for regional funding to advance a statewide system of substance misuse prevention. United Way is one of four Lead Prevention Organizations selected by DSU to lead regional strategies for substance misuse prevention and subgrant funds to community prevention partners. United Way's prevention network manager, Mahat Abdullahi, said community connection plays a critical role in prevention. "It’s really important that we kind of come together as a community to reduce substance misuse and to promote the well-being of our communities," Abdullahi said. "There’s a need for this type of work to be supported in a lot of ways, and one of those is funding."Funding applications were reviewed by a funding committee made up of local professionals representing diverse sectors including health care, designated mental health and substance misuse agencies, and regional planning commissions. The funding committee was charged with reviewing applications and selecting a portfolio of subgrants that advance substance misuse prevention in alignment with regional priorities and a balance across the region. Seventeen organizations received awards. The funding committee reviewed 41 applications, totaling nearly three times the available funds. Priority was given to proposals that address prevention for youth, refugees, migrants, black or indigenous people, veterans, people who are unhoused, those living with limited financial means, those living in rural areas, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. The Georgia Public Library received one of the subgrants for the 'Here I Belong' program, which offers opportunities for social networking and mutual support among LGBTQIA+ youth. "The goal is to prevent substance use and to improve mental health markers in youth," said library director, Bridget Stone. "If we can help even one heart be easier, we will have succeeded."The most recent round of funding was for July 2025 to June 2026. The United Way said it would continue the funding over the next three years through an annual continuation process. See the full list of award recipients and the communities they serve below. BIPOC Youth Mentorship Program (Burlington)Burlington Partnership for a Health Community (Burlington)Community Empowering Youth: The Café (St. Albans)Education Justice Coalition (Barre, Burlington, St. Albans)Georgia Public Library (Burlington, St. Albans)Good Samaritan Haven (Barre)King Street Center (Burlington)Mad River Mentoring (Barre)Prevent Child Abuse VT (Barre, Burlington, St. Albans)Pride Center of Vermont (Barre, Burlington, St. Albans)Project All Together Now VT (Burlington)Richard Kemp Center (Barre, Burlington, St. Albans)Twinfield Together Mentoring (Barre)United Immigrant and Refugee Community (Burlington, St. Albans)Up for Learning (Barre, Burlington, St. Albans)Winooski Partnership for Prevention (Burlington)Youth First Mentoring (Barre)
BURLINGTON, Vt. — United Way of Northwest Vermont has announced more than $600,000 in subgrants to support substance misuse prevention efforts in the Burlington, St. Albans, and Barre health districts.
The funding comes from the State of Vermont, Department of Health's Division of Substance Use Programs (DSU), and is part of the state’s relatively new framework for regional funding to advance a statewide system of substance misuse prevention.
United Way is one of four Lead Prevention Organizations selected by DSU to lead regional strategies for substance misuse prevention and subgrant funds to community prevention partners. United Way's prevention network manager, Mahat Abdullahi, said community connection plays a critical role in prevention.
"It’s really important that we kind of come together as a community to reduce substance misuse and to promote the well-being of our communities," Abdullahi said. "There’s a need for this type of work to be supported in a lot of ways, and one of those is funding."
Funding applications were reviewed by a funding committee made up of local professionals representing diverse sectors including health care, designated mental health and substance misuse agencies, and regional planning commissions.
The funding committee was charged with reviewing applications and selecting a portfolio of subgrants that advance substance misuse prevention in alignment with regional priorities and a balance across the region. Seventeen organizations received awards.
The funding committee reviewed 41 applications, totaling nearly three times the available funds. Priority was given to proposals that address prevention for youth, refugees, migrants, black or indigenous people, veterans, people who are unhoused, those living with limited financial means, those living in rural areas, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+.
The Georgia Public Library received one of the subgrants for the 'Here I Belong' program, which offers opportunities for social networking and mutual support among LGBTQIA+ youth.
"The goal is to prevent substance use and to improve mental health markers in youth," said library director, Bridget Stone. "If we can help even one heart be easier, we will have succeeded."
The most recent round of funding was for July 2025 to June 2026. The United Way said it would continue the funding over the next three years through an annual continuation process.
See the full list of award recipients and the communities they serve below.
- BIPOC Youth Mentorship Program (Burlington)
- Burlington Partnership for a Health Community (Burlington)
- Community Empowering Youth: The Café (St. Albans)
- Education Justice Coalition (Barre, Burlington, St. Albans)
- Georgia Public Library (Burlington, St. Albans)
- Good Samaritan Haven (Barre)
- King Street Center (Burlington)
- Mad River Mentoring (Barre)
- Prevent Child Abuse VT (Barre, Burlington, St. Albans)
- Pride Center of Vermont (Barre, Burlington, St. Albans)
- Project All Together Now VT (Burlington)
- Richard Kemp Center (Barre, Burlington, St. Albans)
- Twinfield Together Mentoring (Barre)
- United Immigrant and Refugee Community (Burlington, St. Albans)
- Up for Learning (Barre, Burlington, St. Albans)
- Winooski Partnership for Prevention (Burlington)
- Youth First Mentoring (Barre)
