On October 30th, Healthy Lamoille Valley was invited to the White House and recognized for our outstanding work in preventing youth substance use. Healthy Lamoille Valley was one of 15 Drug-Free Community Coalitions from across the country receiving a Blue Ribbon Award at the National Youth Substance Use Prevention Summit celebrating 25 years of the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program.
The Blue Ribbon Coalition Award recognizes high performing coalitions that do an exceptional job creating
a foundation for their work by updating and utilizing their coalition products. It is a two-year recognition
that opens new doors for coalitions to share their work and become a role model in the prevention field.
Healthy Lamoille Valley was represented at the ceremony by Program Coordinator Jessica Bickford, Youth
Coordinator Brian Duda, and Youth Coalition member Nate Bickford. “The DC experience was an enriching
one, the dedication to prevention at the national level and the different efforts across the board was
inspiring, and an experience I won’t forget,” said Nate, who also participated in a panel discussion with
other youth prevention leaders.
The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program, created by the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997, is
the Nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent youth substance use.
“Drug-Free Community Coalitions are an essential part of our whole-of-society efforts to address the
overdose epidemic and save lives,” said White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
Director Dr. Rahul Gupta. “The Biden-Harris Administration has made supporting the nation’s youth and
their well-being a top priority, and made historic investments to strengthen substance use prevention. I
am grateful to the Blue Ribbon Coalitions awardees, like Healthy Lamoille Valley, who are leading the way
in expanding critical evidence-based prevention efforts and addressing youth substance use so that all
young Americans can live healthy and fulfilling lives.”
Above: Youth Coordinator Brian Duda, Youth Council member Nate Bickford, and Program Coordinator Jessica Bickford receive Healthy Lamoille Valley’s Blue Ribbon Award from ONDCP staff.
Below: Youth Council member Nate Bickford in a panel of youth leaders answer questions from ONDCP staff.
