Meet Us

Thank you for taking an interest in getting to know us. We are a coalition of Burlington residents, businesses, school and college representatives, parents, youth, medical professionals, students, social service representatives, law enforcement officials, court representatives, and more who recognize that the damages of drugs, alcohol abuse, and tobacco effect us all and we work together to create a healthier environment in Burlington.

We believe that the most effective way to support community health and wellness is to bring the community together to address their own problems and enhance their strengths. We believe in evidence-based strategies and long-term strategic approaches. We intend to be in this with Burlington for the long haul, creating
healthy choices through a holistic approach to improving policy and practice, supporting statewide and Burlington specific education and awareness, and engaging young people in our work so they can be empowered to become leaders for prevention and wellness in their own community.
+ More about the history of BPHC…

Burlington Partnership for a Healthy Community (BPHC) evolved from the strong foundation built by the Chittenden County Substance Abuse Coalition (CCSAC) that began around 1999. In 2005, the Vermont Department of Health approached CCSAC to develop a coalition to impact substance abuse prevention, across all age groups, specific to the needs of the city of Burlington. In the fall of 2006, the decision was made by the CCSAC Board to focus their efforts on Burlington and the county coalition reformed as the Burlington Partnership for a Healthy Community.

BPHC maintained many of the same board and coalition members as a new mission and vision were identified and funding for continued sustainabilty was addressed. The board members hired their first staff member and spent significant time and effort to identify and include the appropriate people and organizations that needed to be involved in the work of the coalition for us to be successful in improving health outcomes in Burlington. BPHC applied for and was awarded funding in 2007 from the Vermont Department of Health to build capacity and completed a community needs assessment to help identify priorities. Through this funding and assessment we created our first strategic plan and have continued to evaluate and revise our interventions to support health and wellness in Burlington ever since!

Vision & Mission
Working together for a safe and healthy community; To positively impact the Burlington community by addressing the causes and consequences of substance abuse.

We focus on the following principles to guide our Mission:

+ Education and Public Awareness

We will inform our community of the dangers associated with misuse of alcohol and other drugs and promote the effectiveness of prevention strategies.
+ Collaboration

Every member of our community can be an effective part of prevention efforts. We will provide opportunities for individuals and organizations to work together to achieve mutual outcomes.
+ Advocacy

We will be a voice for prevention in Burlington. We will educate our communities and policy makers to make informed decisions to improve local and state practices, policies, and laws.
+ Services & Supports

We will implement evidence-based programs in collaboration with our partners that support community-wide improvements to health and wellness in Burlington.

Our long-term goals for Burlington

  • Reduce underage and high-risk drinking rates
  • Reduce youth prescription drug abuse/misuse rates
  • Reduce tobacco use rates
  • Reduce youth marijuana use rates
  • Increase opportunities for youth participation and leadership in community prevention strategies and activities

Download our strategic plan

Our Advisory Board of Directors

Megan Peek, Chair – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, Burlington resident
Mitch Barron, Fiscal Agent Representative – LICSW, LADC Centerpoint Adolescent Treatment Services
Karen Tyler, Member- University of Vermont Health Network, Burlington resident 
Tian Berry – Burlington resident                                                                                                                             Marielle Matthews – Winooski Partnership for Prevention, public health consultant, Burlington resident

Our Staff

Mariah Flynn (she/her), Coalition Director

+ About Mariah

Mariah has lived in Vermont all her life and in the Burlington area for more than 25 years, graduating from the University of Vermont with degrees in Psychology and English. She has worked in the substance misuse field for the past 20+ years as a counselor, case manager and for more than 12 years as the Director of BPHC. In her time with adolescents in a substance use disorder rehabilitation center and with adults in the criminal justice system as a result of their substance use and mental illness, Mariah was impacted by the struggles of the individuals and loved ones dealing with substance dependence. She is passionate about building communities that provide youth and families with the skills and environment that supports healthy choices. Mariah loves to check out local sites and events and find new adventures to explore around the area with her two teenagers. She is always open to new recommendations!
Reagan Murphy (she/her), Youth Programming Coordinator

+ About Reagan

Reagan is a self-proclaimed “poster child for prevention work.” After attending the New Hampshire Teen Institute Leaders in Prevention Conference in 8th grade she has been involved in activism, youth empowerment, volunteering, and prevention ever since! Eventually she moved on to intern and then work with the NH Teen Institute, designing workshops and leading teens to become advocates for healthy choices. Born and raised in northern NH, she received a Bachelors in Communication from Southern New Hampshire University in 2018 and moved to Burlington to pursue a career in nonprofit development. After a year of community outreach for Committee On Temporary Shelter, Reagan is excited to return to her roots in prevention as the Youth Programming Coordinator for BPHC. In her free time, she enjoys playing ukulele, painting, skateboarding, and sitting around a fire with her family and friends.
Associate Director 

+ About Jessica

Evan Litwin (he/him), Marketing & Communications Coordinator

+ About Tori

Tori found her way to Vermont in 2012, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing with a Specialization in Journalism from Champlain College. After spending most of her childhood moving, Tori chose to make Vermont home and entered the nonprofit spectrum professionally. She has spent the last five years working within the affordable housing and substance use prevention sectors. Tori is ecstatic to be part of the BPHC team and can be found reading, writing or cooking when she isn’t in the office.

Registered Members
We welcome organizations and individuals to partner with us to create a healthier environment in Burlington. Learn more about membership and the special benefits of your annual registration.

Organizations
Big Heavy World
Burlington Housing Authority
Burlington Labs
Burlington Parks & Recreation
Centerpoint Adolescent Treatment Services
Champlain College
UVM Medical Center
Howard Center
Local Motion
People’s United Bank
Vermont Agency of Human Services
Vermont Department of Health
Vermont Works for Women

Proud members of
Burlington Business Association
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Prevention Works VT!
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Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
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