About SPAN

The Substance Prevention Alliance of Needham (SPAN) is comprised of residents, youth, and key stakeholders who work to implement strategies for youth substance use prevention. Drawing on the strengths of a civic-minded and collaborative community, SPAN offers Needham residents education, support, and resources for navigating substance use and misuse among our youth.

Our Mission 

The Coalition incorporates a collaborative, community-based, and data-driven prevention approach to reduce alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use among Needham youth. Through community education, partnership, and strategic action, we will decrease the risk factors indicated in substance use and increase the protective factors known to support youth in making healthy and safe choices.

Community Participation & Teamwork

SPAN's leadership structure is comprised of both coalition staff and numerous volunteers. There is a Coalition Director and a Project Coordinator for Capacity Building and Communications in the Needham Public Health Division. The coalition created a Steering Committee comprised of leaders from the school administration, police department, public health, youth and family services, park and recreation, and parents. This broad community participation has enhanced awareness of our mission and ongoing prevention initiatives among key decision-makers and stakeholders within the town.

Current STEERING COMMITTEE Members:

Chris Baker - Deputy Chief, Needham Police Department

Karen Shannon, CPS - Program Director, DFC, Needham Public Health Division

Janet Jankowiak, MD - Civic Group Representative

Liana Osgood - NHS Student and SALSA Leader, Needham High School

Allie Weiss - NHS Student and SALSA Leader, Needham High School

Sara Shine, LICSW - Director, Youth and Family Services, Town of Needham

Angi MacDonnell - Project Coordinator, Needham Public Health Division

Susannah Hann, MEd, BSN, RN, NCSN - Director of Health Services, Needham Public Schools

Denise Domnarski - Director of Wellness K-12, Needham Public Schools

Pastor Ryan Marshall - Highrock MetroWest Church

History 

Originally named the Needham Coalition for Youth Substance Abuse Prevention (NCYSAP), the Substance Prevention Alliance of Needham (SPAN) was developed out of the Youth Education subcommittee of the Needham Suicide Prevention Coalition (NCSP), which was created in 2006 following a span of suicides in the community in 2004. Recognizing the value and importance of substance abuse prevention to community health, the Needham Public Health Department agreed to house SPAN's youth substance use prevention efforts and provide administrative and logistical support.

Upon receiving the Drug-Free Communities grant award in 2009, SPAN expanded prevention efforts based on the Strategic Prevention Framework; Coalition staff attended the CADCA National Academy and, over three training weeks, learned to interpret data and identify root causes of underage substance use inherent in Needham. The staff learned about capacity building, evaluation, and the importance of incorporating cultural competency and sustainability approaches to strengthen and maintain the coalition. They passed this knowledge onto the alliance and, combined with outside facilitator training, coalition members became versed in public health prevention principles and models. Together, the coalition members refined our community prevention efforts based on youth risk behavior survey data, school and police incident data, resident feedback from focus groups, and key stakeholder interviews. Our education and advocacy work on policy change has resulted in the approval and passage of regulations by the Board of Selectman, Board of Health, and Planning Board, including tobacco regulations capping the number of licensees, a moratorium on marijuana home cultivation and dispensaries, and an ordinance banning public consumption of marijuana, with ordinances passed by Town Meeting Member vote.

The coalition now consistently implements prevention strategies to decrease risk factors for youth substance use and increase protective factors that promote community resilience.