Who We Are
SPIFFY is a coalition of over 80 community partners working together to improve outcomes for youth in Hampshire County. SPIFFY is administered by CES on behalf of the partners, and Community Health Solutions consultants assist the coalition in its work.
Together we promote strong families and create a local culture where youth are supported to make healthy choices. SPIFFY’s prevention activities involve community-based organizations, faith communities, schools, local colleges and universities, parents, youth, law enforcement, municipal government, media, and human service groups.
Our coalition fosters collaboration between schools and communities, promotes strong families, and supports positive youth development.
This approach collects and uses data to identify strategies, policies, and evidence-based programs that reduce unhealthy behaviors.
Spotlight on Current SPIFFY Coalition Activities
The SPIFFY Coalition is always working to support and implement a range of youth substance use prevention initiatives. Here’s the latest:
Strategic Planning
SPIFFY is currently undergoing a 5-year strategic planning process using the Strategic Prevention Framework. Check out this short video to learn how strategic planning works. Last spring, we held a strategic planning event in which both youth and adults from across Hampshire County spent time reviewing our assessment data and helping SPIFFY begin to set goals for the next few years. From there, the SPIFFY team formed a strategic plan, and we are pleased to report that in February 2024, that plan was fully approved by the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, and we are now in the early phases of implementing our strategies. If you are interested in learning more about, or participating in, the strategic planning process, check out our Assessment Report and contact Lisa Goldsmith at lgoldsmith@collaborative.org.
Getting to Y
SPIFFY is supporting two cohorts of young people (one group at Easthampton High School, and one at Smith Academy in Hatfield) in reviewing local youth health survey data, presenting to their community, and creating and implementing strategies. The Getting to Y groups identified core concerns impacting youth in their school community and will be identifying and taking action steps to create positive change. To learn more about Getting to Y, please contact Lexi Polokoff at apolokoff@collaborative.org.
Regional Policy and Norms Workgroup
The Policy and Norms Workgroup has been working to lateralize leadership via new leadership in subcommittees (i.e. youth cannabis prevention policy, youth alcohol prevention policy, the intersection between substance misuse prevention and health equity) as well as creating other leadership opportunities for folks in under-represented Western MA counties of this workgroup to take on. Fill out THIS Google Form to sign up for the Policy and Norms listserv. Please contact Lexi at apolokoff@collaborative.org if you have any other questions.
Leaders of Today Council
SPIFFY Staffperson Lexi Polokoff and CES staffperson Talya Sogoba are collaborating with a group of Hampshire County youth and Community Action Youth Programs to create an online youth leadership and activism clearinghouse for Hampshire County Youth. They meet biweekly and are working toward launching a Leaders of Today website in which all youth from all over Hampshire County can network, learn about, and get involved with youth leadership and activism. To learn more, please reach out to Lexi at apolokoff@collaborative.org. To sign up for the LTC newsletter, please complete this form.
Partnership for Success Subcontracts
SPIFFY has completed our review of subcontract applications, and selected three sub-grantees to partner with! Translate Gender has created a Trans Youth Action Team focusing on school policy changes, educational campaigns, and school staff training on intervention. Easthampton High School will be creating a student team engaging in curriculum development, policy making, and information campaigns. And the Northampton Department of Health and Human Services/Youth for Equity and Action/Northampton Prevention Coalition will be creating an adult/youth team to work on improving mental health and wellbeing. SPIFFY is thrilled to be supporting the work of these local groups as they identify and advocate for community priorities and train and mobilize community members to take action and advocate for policy and systems change that affect youth substance use. To learn more about Partnerships for Success, you can view our Google Slide presentation or contact Lexi Polokoff at apolokoff@collaborative.org.
SPIFFY Monthly Newsletter
SPIFFY has launched a monthly e-newsletter with our latest news and updates, recommended reading on the latest topics in public health and upstream prevention, action alerts, job opportunities, and more! If your coalition has recent accomplishments or upcoming events, please let us know: we’d love to highlight them! For any newsletter questions, submissions, or to be added to the mailing list, contact Amy Cronin DiCaprio at adicaprio@collaborative.org.
Latest from our Partners and the Coalition
SPIFFY is proud to partner across sectors with many different organizations. The communities in Hampshire County are full of strength and collaboration. Below are some recent highlights from the organizing work that has been happening in our communities.
Calendar of Events
On this Google Calendar, you will find the dates and times of:
- SPIFFY’s Steering Committee meetings
- Regional School Health Task Force meetings
- Policy and Norms Workgroup meetings
- Events that SPIFFY is sponsoring and co-sponsoring
- Events that SPIFFY’s partners are sponsoring and co-sponsoring
- Other local meetings and events that support youth in living healthy lives
Feel free to email Lexi Polokoff at apolokoff@collaborative.org if there is an event you would like promoted on this public calendar. To add this calendar to your own Google Account’s Calendar, click the “+GoogleCalendar” icon on the bottom right corner of this calendar.