The "be FREE!"Project began in 2005 as one of 5 communities awarded a grant by the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation. This project does not provide clinical services, rather it is a community development project.
Some of the accomplishments of The “be FREE!” Project are:
Community Surveys. Using Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data, as well as focus group data garnered from the High School Wellness Department and the Hopkinton Youth Commission, the project identified risk and protective Factors for healthy youth development.
Resource/Gap Analysis. Conducted a strengths and gap analysis of youth substance abuse related resources in the Hopkinton as well as surrounding communities.
Developed important relationships with community partners and youth-serving programs and agencies in Hopkinton.
Curriculum Development. In concert with the Wellness department, building an age-specific, holistic, and diverse curriculum for substance abuse prevention using best practice approaches.
Training. Provided inservices and facilitated trainings with the Hopkinton Police Department.
Community Projects.
- Created a resource binder for the Hopkinton Police Department to use with parents of underage children who have been found under the influence, or in possession, of alcohol or other drugs. - Partnered with Hopkinton Public Library to increase youth and parent alcohol dependency self-help holdings.
