Peabody appoints new health director

PEABODY – The city has named Sara Grinnell as its first ever Executive Director of the Healthy Peabody Collaborative.As the new director, Grinnell will oversee the community organization’s efforts in combating substance abuse and preventing underage drinking – a growing problem in the Leather City.”Data compiled by the state health department clearly demonstrate that substance use among youth in our region has reached alarming levels,” said Mayor Michael Bonfanti. “Work done through the Healthy Peabody Collaborative will help us to identify the root causes of this problem.”According to Massachusetts Health reports, Peabody males ages 15-19 years old are hospitalized for drug and alcohol abuse at a rate 202 percent higher than the state average. Peabody females of the same age are hospitalized at a rate 427 percent higher than the state. Peabody Health Director Sharon Cameron said the alarming numbers are “not atypical for an urban community.”With the help of a $300,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the city will work with its community partners to perform a needs assessment on underage drinking through surveys, interviews and focus groups and develop a strategic plan to change the environment and make accessing alcohol more difficult for the underage. The grant will provide the city with $100,000 each year over three years, with the ability to renew for seven years, totaling $700,000 overall.Grinnell has had the responsibility of doing similar tasks for other North Shore communities in the past. She spent years in Newburyport as a Coalition Coordinator for a substance abuse prevention program that successfully reduced underage drinking. More recently, she served as a Community Health Specialist for the Northeast Center for Healthy Communities where she provided technical assistance to various organizations working on youth substance abuse issues.During her first few weeks in her new role, Grinnell has been “running around and meeting as many new people as possible,” she said.”Everyone here has been so welcoming,” she said. “The Chief (Robert Champagne) has been great.”From now until Oct. 30, Grinnell will be working alongside Champagne, Bonfanti and Cameron in effort to complete their needs assessment test. Retailer compliance checks and server education programs are underway.Grinnell’s main goal is to not only reduce underage drinking, but to make sure the collaborative is representative of the community. She’s reaching out to all members, including liquor storeowners, to help in the fight.”It’s going to be a great collaboration,” she said. “I think there’s real strength within this city. Everyone’s so committed to the issue?Peabody is very, very lucky and fortunate to have that backing.”Grinnell estimates having a plan in place by the end of October, although she admits things will have to be tweaked here and there as the process goes along.”It’s a tight timeline,” she said. “But, it’s definitely a realistic one.”Grinnell encourages others to get involved with the Collaborative by contacting her at 978-538-6339.