A voice for preventing substance abuse in Minnesota
The Minnesota Prevention Alliance is a statewide coalition made up of professionals and volunteers from around the state who promote and enhance substance abuse prevention efforts. Our goal is to reduce adolescent substance abuse by building advocacy, policy influence, and youth engagement in Minnesota communities. We want to see Minnesota be a healthy, safe place for teens and families to thrive.
Mission
“The Minnesota Prevention Alliance shall work together to promote and enhance substance abuse prevention across the State of Minnesota.”
What We Do
- Build advocacy, policy influence, and youth engagement
- Network and share resources and best practices
- Provide information and action steps on key substance abuse issues in Minnesota
- Support prevention workforce development
MPA Leadership Team
| Position: | Name: | Contact Email: |
| Chair | Derrek Harju | Derrek.Harju@co.nicollet.mn.us |
| Vice Chair | Sheila Watercott | swatercott@lfalls.k12.mn.us |
| Treasurer | Angela Graham | AngelaGraham@catholichealth.net |
| Recording Secretary | Doris Knutson | Doris_K@lakeofthewoodsschool.og |
| At-Large | Jeremy Evans | Jeremy.Evans@pactforfamilies.org |
| At-Large | Sandy Peterson | sandy_p@lakeofthewoodsschool.org |
| At-Large | Shelly Larsen | shelly@mcsapcoalition.com |
| Fiscal Host Rep. | Julie Vreeland | Julie.Vreeland@commonspirit.org |
| DFC Program Coord. | Laura Daak | LauraDaak@catholichealth.net |
CHI St. Gabriel’s Health
CHI St. Gabriel’s Health, MPA’s fiscal host, is part of the Midwest Division of CommonSpirit Health. CHI St. Gabriel’s Health is a multi-facility health care organization, which includes St. Gabriel’s Hospital (CHI St. Gabriel’s Health a critical access hospital), Family Medical Center (a multispecialty clinic with locations in Little Falls, Pierz, and Randall), Little Falls Orthopedics (an orthopedic and podiatry practice), CHI Health at Home (a home health and hospice agency), and Alverna Apartments (a 60-unit, HUD-subsidized senior housing complex). We’ve been serving this area since 1892 and we have the equipment, experience, and expertise to offer you a full range of health services.
Drug-free Community Support Program
The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program is the nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent and reduce substance use among youth. Created in 1997 by the Drug-Free Communities Act, administered by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and managed through a partnership between ONDCP and CDC, the DFC program provides grants to community coalitions to strengthen the infrastructure among local partners to create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use.
