Published in the August 30, 2017 edition
LAHEY HEALTH Primary Care COO Denis Gallagher (center) presents a $17,000 check to Selectman Phil Crawford and Superintendent Jane Tremblay for a substance abuse grant. The donation, given to the town’s Healthy Lynnfield substance abuse coalition, will allow the school system to administer the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to middle and high school students this year. (Courtesy Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The town’s fight against substance abuse has received a much-needed boost from a grant Lynnfield has been awarded.
Lahey Health awarded a $17,000 grant to the town’s A Healthy Lynnfield coalition recently. The grant will allow the school system to administer the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to middle and high school students this year.
Students will take the national survey online. The survey will help Lynnfield Public Schools monitor behaviors related to unintentional injuries and violence, mental health, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, nutrition, physical activity and other health related issues.
The School Department previously administered the survey to students in grades 6, 9 and 11 in 2014.
The grant will also allow A Healthy Lynnfield to administer a parent survey to further support the coalition’s efforts.
“It is important to understand the health needs our communities are faced with,” said Lahey Health Primary Care COO Denis Gallagher. “We hope this survey sheds light on some of the issues impacting Lynnfield, allowing the coalition to better respond to the health risks facing the youths in their community.”
Selectman Phil Crawford, who leads the coalition, thanked Lahey Health for awarding the grant to the town.
“On behalf of the town of Lynnfield, I would like to say thank you to Lahey Health for their generous grant,” said Crawford in a news release. “This is an important first step for our coalition and our town.”
Superintendent of Schools Jane Tremblay agreed.
“We are very excited and we are very much looking forward to working with the Healthy Lynnfield Coalition in keeping our students safe and being proactive about their health,” said Tremblay in an interview with the Villager. “I am very grateful to Lahey Health for partnering with us as we move forward.”
As part of an effort to promote a healthier and safer community, the town recently formed A Healthy Lynnfield. The coalition works to promote a healthy community by increasing awareness, promoting education and providing resources to address substance abuse.
The selectmen and School Committee recently voted to appoint A Healthy Lynnfield’s steering committee, which is the coalition’s voting block. The steering committee consists of Crawford, Police Chief David Breen, Fire Chief Mark Tetreault, Teaching and Learning Director Kevin Cyr, Rev. Paul Ritt of the Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative, firefighter/paramedic Jeff Fiorentino, Town Administrator Jim Boudreau, Health Director Kristin Esposito McRae, School Committee member Jamie Hayman, Nursing Director Mary Homan and health professional Tom Adamczyk.
