Our vision
The Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support (RCPS) is a community-wide coalition focused on substance misuse prevention and mental health awareness within the broad context of a healthy community in which quality of life is a priority for all who live, go to school, and work in Reading, Massachusetts. Our vision is a safe, vibrant, and healthy Reading in which all members-young to old-engage in making healthy decisions and actively work together to ensure that today’s resources shape tomorrow’s strengths.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to promote a healthy community environment so that everyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Reading can enjoy an optimum quality of life. To address our problem that a significant number of youth and adults in Reading, MA misuse alcohol, drugs, and nicotine. The coalition focuses on seven community change strategies to reduce substance misuse and promote mental health.
Our Primary prevention strategies
Provide Information
Enhance Skills
Provide Support
Enhance Access to Healthy Opportunities
Change Consequences
Consider Healthy Physical Design
Modify & Change Policies
Our Goals
The coalition as a vehicle for community change has proven to be an essential component in reducing substance misuse and promoting mental health in Reading through a variety of prevention efforts. The coalition focuses on shared accountability, community education, coalition trainings, leadership programs, special events and advocacy centered on three goals:
Improve community collaboration
Reduce substance misuse
Promote mental health