Substance Misuse Prevention
Preventing substance misuse among youth and young adults
The Norwalk Partnership
The Norwalk Partnership brings community members and organizations together to prevent substance misuse among youth and young adults by addressing local conditions.
Program Director
Diamond Sead
Diamond Sead is a vital member of the Human Services Council (HSC) team, where she serves as the Program Director for the Dr. Robert E. Appleby School-Based Health Centers and facilitates the Norwalk SMART Recovery teen group. A proud graduate of Norwalk’s own Brien McMahon High School and the University of Connecticut (UConn), Diamond’s professional journey is deeply rooted in her academic background in Human Development and Family Studies.
A pivotal community member dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of Norwalk, Diamond serves on the Board of Directors for Norwalk ACTS and maintains extensive collaborations with numerous non-profit agencies throughout the city. Her commitment to the local community is personal as well as professional; she is a deeply connected Norwalk resident and the proud parent of two Norwalk Public School students.
In her capacity as the Director of HSC’s substance misuse program, Diamond led the initiative through a significant merger with Positive Directions, now collectively known as “The Norwalk Partnership.” Through this partnership, she provides essential programming and support groups for youth and adolescents navigating mental health challenges and substance misuse. Diamond’s passion for the well-being of others and her tireless dedication to service make her an invaluable asset to both the Human Services Council and the entire Norwalk community.
Our Vision for Norwalk Youth
Young people in Norwalk, CT thrive in a community that supports mental wellness and safe, healthy behaviors without using substances. To this end, The Norwalk Partnership (TNP) brings together community agencies, schools, and parent leaders to gather data, develop strategies, and provide education and resources that support our youth and families.
We use proven strategies from prevention science, and we bring them down to the community level so everyone can participate. In our monthly meetings, we build the ability of our community members to help identify and discuss local issues, provide insight into local conditions, and help plan and implement strategies.
History & Funding
During late summer of 2020, The Norwalk Partnership was created by uniting two previous prevention groups: the Community Prevention Task Force, managed by the Human Services Council (HSC), and the Partnership, managed by Positive Directions – The Center for Prevention and Counseling. TNP was launched with the first coalition meeting in September 2020.
In merging these efforts, Positive Directions and HSC recognized that prevention work can best be done together. Both agencies continue to serve as fiduciaries for this work:
Both agencies provide staff time to support the prevention work of the coalition.
Visit the Norwalk Partnership website for more info & to stay up to date with our meetings, impact, and events.
About The Norwalk Partnership
Established in September 2020, The Norwalk Partnership (TNP) emerged after securing the federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant in December 2019. This grant enabled us to establish a coalition focused on preventing substance misuse. At TNP, we leverage proven prevention science strategies, making them accessible to everyone in our community. Through monthly meetings and collaborative efforts, we empower community members to identify local issues, discuss solutions, and implement evidence-based strategies.
Visit the Norwalk Partnership website
Drug Abuse Hotline.
Call 1-800-563-4086, 24 hours a day
Resources
Services
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Community events
- Teacher training
- Student education programs
- Local community liaisons and relationship building
Our Impact
600
backpacks given
2
Family Day Events
1
Movie screening- "The Anonymous People"
75
tobacco prevention interventions