We’re a state-funded, locally administered program that supports the organizations across Addison and Rutland counties doing prevention work, helping people of all ages build healthier, more connected lives.
Join our Team!
We're looking to hire more Prevention Specialists to support our work.
This position provides prevention expertise, strategic leadership and technical consultation for substance use prevention within Rutland and Addison Counties through the Vermont Prevention Lead Organization (VPLO) grant funding structure. Working with a variety of community agencies, the Prevention Specialist will be responsible for all grant objectives and lead activities in accordance with the grant.
Upcoming Events and Trainings
Building Powerful Small Groups
2026 HIDTA Prevention Summit
OVX Youth Leadership Summit
- Our Awardees
Local Organizations Making a Difference
Our awardees are businesses and organizations committed to substance use prevention through unique programs that serve a wide range of demographics.
Community Members Served by Our Awardees
- Atria Collective
- Come Alive Outside
- Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region
- Easterseals Vermont
- Kingdom County Productions
- Mountain Community Health
- The DREAM Program
- Turning Point Center of Addison County
- Boys and Girls Club of Rutland County
- Companions in Wholeness
- Elderly Services Inc.
- The MINT
- UP for Learning
- VTSU Center for Social Justice and Trauma Informed Care
- Boys and Girls Club of Greater Vergennes
- Rutland Pharmacy
- Rutland County Pride
The Vermont Department of Health (VDH), Division of Substance Use Programs (DSU) has established four regional Vermont Prevention Lead Organizations (VPLOs) to increase state, regional and community capacity to deliver meaningful substance use prevention statewide.
We serve as fiscal agents to community organizations, coordinate through a regional advisory structure, and work with district partners to allocate substance misuse prevention funding in their region.
Allocations are based on community assessments, risk and protective factors, and community readiness.
The VPLOs are funded by the cannabis excise tax dollars for substance use prevention in Vermont, which is sub-granted to substance use coalitions and community partners based on regional needs.
Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) has been selected to lead Region 2, one of four Prevention Leads in the state. RRMC will coordinate regional partners to help determine needs, gaps, priorities, and facilitate the granting process by providing funds to enhance all levels of prevention within Addison and Rutland Counties.
The VPLO Region 2 program coordinator administers funds based on a rolling, quarterly review, with oversight by the VPLO Region 2 District Leadership Team. Award decisions are based on the region's assessed priorities and follow the Vermont Division of Substance Use Programs (DSU) funding framework.
Awardees report results quarterly, which VPLO Region 2 rolls into one regional report to the state, tracking protective factors and reach.
Yes — the totals and awardee list are already public, and transparency helps.
The Division of Substance Use Programs at the Vermont Department of Health is the state office that funds and oversees prevention and created the four regional leads in 2023. VPLO Region 2 reports to it.
- Our Specialist