Coalition History
For over two decades, our coalition has been a vital part of the Torrington community, dedicated to preventing youth substance use and promoting healthier futures. We’ve worked tirelessly to address local needs, adapt to challenges, and implement evidence-based strategies that protect and empower our youth. Our long-standing commitment reflects the strength of our partnerships and our shared goal of building a safer, healthier community for all.
Our Roots
Our coalition began in the early 2000s as the Torrington Coalition to Reduce Youth Substance Use, an initiative of the McCall Center for Behavioral Health to combat underage drinking. By engaging local partners, the coalition conducted a thorough review of community data and identified key risk factors such as low law enforcement presence and the ease of alcohol accessibility for youth.
In 2004, the coalition received the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG), enabling a more formalized and organized approach to prevention. Over the years, the coalition has expanded its focus, securing additional funding through programs such as the federal Partnership for Success (PFS) grant and its extension to address prescription drug misuse. By mobilizing community resources, fostering collaboration, and building capacity, the coalition has effectively leveraged the Strategic Prevention Framework to promote lasting change.
TAPP Today
In 2017, we were awarded the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant and embarked on a new 10-year journey. The DFC program provides funding to community-based coalitions to support the implementation of strategies that reduce youth substance use, including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and misuse of prescription drugs. The program emphasizes the importance of local solutions to local problems by building community collaboration and capacity.
Key Objectives
- Reduce Youth Substance Use: Focus on preventing and reducing youth use of drugs, alcohol, and other substances by addressing risk factors and reinforcing protective factors.
- Strengthen Community Coalitions: Help local coalitions bring together a wide range of stakeholders, such as schools, law enforcement, healthcare providers, parents, youth, and other community members, to collaborate on substance use prevention.
The Strategic Prevention Framework. (SPF)
TAPP's efforts are guided by SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), a comprehensive foundation for planning, implementing, and evaluating prevention practices and programs.
The Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) is a planning process for preventing substance use and misuse. The five steps and two guiding principles of the SPF offer prevention professionals a comprehensive process for addressing the substance misuse and related behavioral health problems facing their communities. The effectiveness of the SPF begins with a clear understanding of community needs and involves community members in all stages of the planning process.
Meet Our Members!
Our sustained success over the past two decades is a town-wide effort. What started as a small group of concerned community members
has risen to a team of four executive board members, 12 sector representatives, and over 65 active members.
TAPP is a community coalition whose mission is to promote healthy life choices through collaboration, education, support and training. We engage and mobilize youth, parents and community partners to prevent substance misuse, foster emotional health, and maintain a safe and healthy community.
58 High Street, Torrington, CT 06790
(959) 799-1445
torringtonapp@gmail.com
