Vermont Prevention Model

Vermont has adopted a socio-ecological model of prevention known as the Vermont Prevention Model. This model depicts five different levels of environmental and personal factors that can influence behavior and health outcomes including policies and systems, community, organizations, relationships, and individual.

It takes a combination of actions, sustained over time, to prevent and reduce alcohol and other substance use. Prevention strategies are most likely to succeed if they reach people holistically in all the environments in which they live: individual, family, school, community, and state level. The Vermont Prevention Model is a visual depiction of this holistic, or comprehensive framework and is the basis for Vermont Department of Health’s Division of Substance Use prevention efforts.

Diagram showing the elements of the prevention framework in Vermont. From bottom to top, the elements are individual, relationship, organizations, community, and policies and systems.

Adapted from: McElroy KR, Bibeau D, Steckler A, Glanz K. An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health Education Quarterly 15:351-377, 1988.

For more information on the Vermont Prevention Model, contact any of the following:

VPLO Coordinator

Jen Pistole
Assistant Director of Prevention Services, VDH Division of Substance Use Programs

Traci Sawyers
Director of Prevention Services, VDH Division of Substance Use Programs