From the halls of the Statehouse to the cafeteria at Edmunds Middle School, Burlington youth took charge of the conversation on health and safety. Whether they were calling out "flavor traps" directly to state senators or leading a room of 35 neighbors in a deep dive into local mental health data, our students are proving that their voices belong at every table.

Our Coalition Director recently collaborated with middle and high school Student Assistance Professionals to create a letter for the Burlington School District that went to all caregiver households concerning the use of nicotine products among our students.

It provides essential insights into how products like "vapes," nicotine pouches, and others are being marketed to and used by youth across all social groups. We encourage families to read the letter…

In a world where technology is a constant companion for our children, finding a balance between digital independence and online safety can feel overwhelming. BPHC’s ParentIN program was pleased to welcome 35 adults to our "Let’s Talk: Supporting Healthy Use of Media and Technology for Your Child" event. Learn more about what we covered and watch this brief 7-minute video from one of our presenters on supporting healthy media use and technology for your child. 

Media and technology can offer many opportunities for teens and we understand that managing their use can also be a challenge and brings up questions and anxieties about what is healthy for kids. Join us for a community-centered evening designed to turn tech-stress into a clear plan of action. This event is specifically tailored to the unique challenges of raising middle and high school students in an always-connected world. Read on to learn more about the event and to RSVP.

This school year we’ve had lots of kids interested in getting involved in supporting local health initiatives.  Our director Mariah had the privilege of joining four awesome middle schoolers from Edmunds Middle School at a regional Getting to Y training hosted by Up for Learning at the Burlington Elk’s Lodge in October.

We also partnered with the school district in November to send thirteen students from Burlington High School, Hunt Middle School, and Edmunds Middle School to the Vermont OVX Youth Leadership Conference at the DoubleTree in South Burlington hosted by the VDH Tobacco Control program.

We all have a role to play in contributing to a joyful and safe holiday for our friends, family, and community members. Check out some of our tips for safer celebrations and some resources for being mindful about how the holiday season can show up for some people.

We’re looking for a self-motivated individual who is good at building relationships and fostering collaboration with and between others, particularly youth.

Elevate started the year off with the message “Elevate your Spark” encouraging BHS students to find activities and groups at BHS that give them energy and purpose, to “find your spark.”

This month, BPHC’s Associate Director, Bianka Çimrin, was honored with two different awards recognizing her leadership, advocacy, and commitment to prevention and community well-being.

Across Vermont, residents are increasingly speaking up: they want smoke- and vape-free homes. What some may brush off as a nuisance is actually a serious health and safety concern. About 43% of Vermont adults report exposure to secondhand smoke or vapor, with half of that exposure happening in multi-unit housing or public settings.

This article is filled with resources for residents, property owners, and property managers.

Emergency rooms across North America are reporting more youth being admitted after accidentally or intentionally consuming cannabis-infused edibles—products that often look like regular candy, cookies, or snacks.

Ingestion of cannabis with THC can lead to severe symptoms in youth, including drowsiness, confusion, difficulty walking, vomiting, anxiety, hallucinations, and in some cases, hospitalization.

Evidence shows that where people live plays a key role in their health. Substance use prevention is a proactive approach that increases the protective factors that can support a healthy lifestyle and reduces the risk factors to the lifestyle, particularly those that contribute to young people using substances early and often.

There were a number of changes to VT cannabis laws that folks from a variety of sectors of the state were advocating for this past session, but only a few changes actually passed. Here are a the main highlights of what the governor signed into law this month from Bill H.32

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug among youth today and is more potent than ever before. The chances of our kids encountering cannabis or seeing it promoted in the community and their social media feeds has increased. We know that the teen brain is much more susceptible to problems from THC use than the fully developed adult brain. The goal for adults supporting teens is to help kids delay substance use for as long as possible while their brains are still developing (through early to mid 20s).

The Burlington Partnership for a Healthy Community invites you to attend our 15th annual Roots of Prevention Award Celebration to honor the outstanding contributions of the awardees below to support a safe and healthy place in which we all can live, work, and thrive!

Please join us Thursday, May 15th at Contois Auditorium in Burlington City Hall as we gather with neighbors over food, listen to our guest speakers, and of course celebrate our community changemakers!

We all want Burlington to be a great place to live. A big part of that is making sure everyone is healthy and safe, especially our young people. Excessive alcohol use is a leading cause of preventable death in the US and here in Vermont we have the highest prevalence of underage alcohol use in youth and some of the highest alcohol use rates in the country across all age groups (youth, young adults, and adults). The amount of alcohol Vermonters are drinking is not without consequences for our state.

BHS Elevate, our wellness campaign centering youth substance use prevention and mental health support for Burlington high schoolers has been continuing to grow in popularity at the high school.

Last month, HealthyBTV hosted 2 community dialogue dinners at Hunt & Edmunds Middle Schools, drawing over 55 participants. Discussions focused on challenges and opportunities for preventing substance misuse and fostering youth resilience.

BPHC is proud and excited to welcome two new members to our Board of Advisors: Michael Hill, Jr. and Ian Speers.