Impact Norwood, a community coalition that works with Norwood Public Schools and other local partners, briefed the Board of Selectmen on March 11 about prevention work it says has coincided with declines in youth substance use and described plans for outreach before its federal grant ends in 2027.

The presentation, led by Connor Brosnan, program director of Impact Norwood, summarized the coalition’s work in schools and the community and cited results from the MetroWest adolescent health survey that the program funds and administers biennially. “Our goal is to provide an environment for Norwood’s youth where they can grow and be the best version of themselves in a safe manner,” Brosnan said.

Impact Norwood described itself as a data-driven, community coalition founded in February 2014 and currently funded by a federal CDC grant that was structured as a 10-year award. Brosnan told the board the grant has roughly two and a half years remaining and is due to end in September 2027. The coalition works with students in grades 6–12 at Coakley Middle School and Norwood High School through a steering committee, a youth coalition and partnerships with school staff and town departments.

Why it matters: the coalition’s survey data are used by the schools to inform programming, and the grant’s scheduled end raises questions about sustaining services. Selectmen asked about future funding and whether the group could extend programs into younger grades after the district reconfigured the middle grades.

Key details and activities

- Funding and timeline: Impact Norwood is funded by a CDC grant (10-year term) with about 2.5 years remaining; the coalition was founded in February 2014 (Connor Brosnan, program director).

- Survey data cited: Impact Norwood helps fund and administer the MetroWest adolescent health survey in Norwood (administered in 2018, 2020 and 2023). Brosnan highlighted declines in substance-use measures: lifetime vaping at Norwood High School was reported by Brosnan to have fallen to 19 percent (from near 50 percent in an earlier year), and lifetime alcohol use at the high school declined from about 50 percent to about 30 percent. Brosnan said vaping at Coakley Middle School decreased by nine percentage points since 2018. He described the survey results as self-reported student data and said the survey is used to shape school and town programming.

- School partnerships and programs: Ryan Quigley, 6–12 wellness coordinator for Norwood Public Schools, said Impact Norwood staff sit on the schools’ health council and helped organize the first annual Norwood Wellness Fair. Quigley and Brosnan said they plan to pilot a wellness club at Norwood High School during the school’s wind block and to expand outreach to families and elementary PTOs ahead of grade transitions.

- Youth-led and community activities: Impact Norwood described ongoing programs including youth-led public-service announcements produced with Norwood Community Media, a senior-center intergenerational conversation series, a regional podcast (Where’s My Handbook?) produced with Mass Call 3, naloxone trainings, anti-vaping campaigns, an upcoming 3-on-3 basketball tournament on June 7 at the Civic Center, and a public-art project on the Germany Brook Trail.

- Regional collaboration and training: Impact Norwood participates in Mass Call 3 (a regional coalition with Stone, Avon and Easton) and uses those links for training and materials.

Board discussion and next steps

Several selectmen praised the coalition’s work and asked how the town could help sustain programs when the CDC grant ends in 2027. Selectwoman (board representative) said she would continue as the board’s liaison and encouraged earlier conversations about long-term funding options. Brosnan said Impact Norwood is exploring ways to meet parents where they are and will provide more information on specific program costs and options if townspeople or board members want to volunteer or receive the coalition’s newsletter.

Ending

Selectmen thanked the presenters and asked staff to follow up with any additional details about program costs, administrative impacts and opportunities for town support as the CDC grant approaches its scheduled end.