News

The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit (HNHU) has been awarded a grant from the Public Health Agency of Canada to implement the Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM) for youth substance use prevention. This funding places the Health Unit among seven communities across Canada selected to adapt this evidence-based model.

The IPM, developed in Iceland, shifts the focus of substance use prevention from individual responsibility to community involvement. The model calls on adults in a child’s life, such as parents, educators, and community leaders, to create a supportive environment that reduces the risks of substance use.

The grant will support initial stages such as community engagement and coalition building. The HNHU will collaborate with Planet Youth, a consultancy of IPM experts from Iceland, to tailor the model to Haldimand and Norfolk youth. Engagement with schools, community organizations, parents, and other youth-focused partners is already underway. A community coalition will be established later this fall to oversee the rollout.

The process includes data collection to inform local action, typically through anonymous surveys completed by local secondary school students.

The IPM has earned international recognition for its collaborative approach to preventing youth substance use. Communities across Canada, including several public health units across the province, have begun implementing this model, which is also being used in sixteen countries worldwide.

Additional information on the Youth Substance Use Prevention Program can be found at Canada.ca. To join the coalition, please contact HNHU staff members, Josh Daley, or Lina Hassen at 519-426-6170.  

Quote:  

Amy Martin, Board of Health Chair for Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit

“We are proud to be one of the communities selected to receive this important funding.  The Icelandic Prevention Model has shown incredible success in countries around the world, and we are excited to bring this approach to Haldimand and Norfolk. By working together as a community, we can create a supportive environment that helps our young people thrive, offering healthy alternatives and reducing the risks associated with substance use, which we know is important, particularly to youth living in rural areas.”