Rutland hospital names eight winners of Vermont prevention grants

Rutland Regional Medical Center, serving as the Region 2 Vermont Prevention Lead Organization, named eight recipients of its FY 27 prevention grants on Oct. 30. Funding for the awards started in July 2026 and continues through June 2027. The Region 2 service area covers Addison and Rutland Counties.

The money backs substance use prevention work across the region, with programs aimed at different substances and different age groups. As Region 2 lead, Rutland Regional Medical Center uses local data to identify regional needs and gaps, then allocates VPLO grant funds to community partners in the two counties.

Atria Collective received funding for trauma-informed workshops, peer support programs, and youth leadership opportunities in schools and the wider community, covering healthy relationships, coping strategies, trusted adults, and substance use prevention. Come Alive Outside will expand its teen intern program so teens ages 11 to 17 can design and lead prevention activities at inclusive third space events. Easter Seals Vermont runs its Balanced and Restorative Justice program with an in-school curriculum, motivational interviewing, and an evidence-based tool to tailor plans and connect schools, families, and local health organizations.

Elderly Services, Inc. will host Wellness Initiative for Senior Education training through its education series and address isolation and loneliness among older adults and caregivers. Kingdom County Productions will run Writers for Recovery workshops across Region 2 with community partners. The DREAM Program will grow its two-tiered school-based mentoring model, training high school students to mentor elementary students. The Peer Recovery Center of Addison County, formerly the Turning Point Center of Addison County, will reach out to local teen centers and youth third spaces and interview school staff, youth supporting professionals, and local youth to assess needs and priorities. UP for Learning will support elementary, middle, and high schools in Region 2 with the Personal Power and Community Connections and Getting to 'Y' programs.

Rutland Regional Medical Center states that the Region 2 lead and its partners work to expand prevention efforts for all ages while addressing barriers and gaps in services. Details on substance use prevention, community resources, and funding opportunities are posted at vplo2.org.