Our Mission:
The Change Collaborative of Manchester works toward building a vibrant, safe, and healthy community for our youth through substance use prevention.
We work closely with 12 community sectors. The coalition gathers and combines talents and resources to address local substance misuse and other related issues for youth.
Meet Our Staff
John Dalterio (and his dog, Bugbear) Prevention Program Coordinator
“Connection is the opposite of addiction.
I grew up in a town without safe, inclusive, or engaging youth programs. My friends and I longed for connection - to our community, to mentors, to friends, even to our families. Manchester is not that town. Here, we have a wealth of wonderful youth programs led by caring community members who are eager to engage with their neighbors.
My goal is to make sure this wealth of resources is fully embraced by everyone in our community. The thoughtful programs developed by our coalition members expand both access to and awareness of these resources, creating opportunities for children, youth, families, and older adults alike to stay connected and supported throughout their entire lives.”
Samantha Bell, Program Coordinator
“Manchester is my home. I care deeply about our community, and the people that live here. I want our youth to grow up in a place where they feel safe, seen, and heard. When we talk about youth substance use prevention, our kids not only need a seat at the table, they need to be at the head of the table, steering the work. I am proud to work with a wonderful coalition of community providers, healthcare professionals, and school staff that put our kids first. ”
Molly Finnegan, Program Support Specialist
“Substance misuse impacts communities in more ways than we realize. The Change Collaborative aims to bring some reassurance that the youth will have safe and healthy outlets to express themselves.”
“Change Collaborative of Manchester works alongside various community agencies to raise awareness on the public health issue of alcohol and substance abuse amongst youth within the Manchester community.”
CADCA Conference
Adults and youth alike learn about best practices in prevention work, the latest research, and coalition development through the CADCA Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. Our Manchester youth had the opportunity of attending this past January, 2023.
We Are Dedicated To Providing Educational Materials To Our Community
Our efforts target youth and their families to make a healthier community that thrives to inform and educate through evidence-based interventions
Check out what our research says
Join Us
We welcome all members of the public who are interested in helping with our cause. Currently we have two groups that meet regularly to work on grassroots initiatives to engage youth and the community at large to raise awareness of alcohol and drug abuse. For more information about this group, contact John Dalterio at jdalterio@manchesterct.gov.