Vilas County Youth Coalition receives $17,000 grant to combat opioid use

The Vilas County Youth Coalition has received $17,000 to combat opioid use in the North Woods from the Marshfield Clinic region of Sanford Health, through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ State Opioid Response funding.

According to Vilas County Youth Coalition Chair Meagan Otto, the State Opioid Response funding will be going toward pre-approved projects focused on reducing harms related to opioids and other similar stimulants in Vilas County.

“Vilas County Youth Coalition has been receiving funds through this grant for the past few years and we were very thankful to be able to continue this good work,” she said. “For those who may want to get involved in the coalition’s efforts, I would direct them to our website.” More information about the Youth Coalition can be found by visiting their website at vcyouthcoalition.org.

In 2025, the Vilas County Youth Coalition will be using the funds to participate in two National Drug Take Back days to encourage the safe disposal of unused and unwanted medications; purchasing and distributing Rx Drug Lockboxes across Vilas County to encourage safe storage of medications that are in use; and continuing to support the numerous billboards the coalition has placed around Vilas County in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of talking to youth about drug use and providing resources for those seeking recovery; and bringing Vive18, a drug, drinking and vape prevention program, into Northland Pines High School for the fall 2025 semester.

“The Vilas County Youth Coalition was very excited to receive these funds,” said Rachael Cornelius, community health coordinator with the Vilas County Department of Public Health. “It’s very cool!”

While the Vilas County Youth Coalition works on many initiatives outside of this specific grant, these are the current projects that are supported by the current 24-25 State Opioid Response Grant.

Statewide funding

The funding received by the Vilas County Youth Coalition is a part of $700,000 that the Marshfield Clinic region of Sanford Health has invested in 31 communities across Wisconsin to address the impact of opioid and stimulant misuse.

The funds, which come from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services opioid response and opioid settlement funds, are dispersed through the Northwoods Coalition. Formed through a partnership between Marshfield Clinic and several community coalitions in 1995, Northwoods Coalition is the largest and oldest network of coalitions dedicated to substance use prevention in Wisconsin, serving 34 counties and 11 Wisconsin Tribal Nations.

The investment in the 31 communities is part of the Northwoods Coalition’s plan to fight the opioid epidemic through evidence-based prevention and harm reduction strategies. Wisconsin, like many other states, has been significantly affected by the opioid crisis.

“The human, societal, and financial toll the opioid crisis has in our communities is tragic,” said Jay Shrader, vice president of Community Impact and Social Accountability. “This funding is vital and is one small but important step in supporting our communities in our ongoing battle against opioid and stimulant misuse. Our communities and community partners are on the frontline and know how to best use these funds in their communities.”

Funding supports evidence-based practices like drug takeback events, Naloxone distribution, sharps disposal events, community awareness and anti-stigma campaigns, and drug checking technology distribution, such as fentanyl test and xylazine test strips.

Communities also can participate in an opioid academy led by a world-renowned training organization, CADCA, a nonprofit organization committed to creating safe, healthy and drug-free communities. The goal of this training academy is to help coalitions create plans for implementing evidence-based practices in their communities using opioid settlement dollars.

Legislative roundtables will give coalitions a chance to showcase their plans to their county-level legislators, in the hopes of getting access to the opioid settlement dollars and putting them to use.

“Additionally, our hope is for state legislators to attend this roundtable and be reminded of the importance of continuing to advocate for opioid prevention and harm reduction funding,” Shrader added. “This is an amazing opportunity for communities to organize around the opioid settlement dollars available to them and will be for years to come.”

The organizations who have received the funding include: Health Dunn Right, Dunn County Partnership for Youth (DCPFY), Together For Jackson County Kids, Florence County AODA/MH Coalition, Marshfield Area Coalition For Youth (DTF), Marathon County AOD Partnership, Vilas County Youth Coalition, Clark County Prevention Partnership, Lincoln County Opioid Task Force, Youth of Burnett County Prevention Coalition, Healthy People Wood County, Monroe County Safe Community Coalition, The Alliance for a Safe and Healthy Bayfield County, Oneida County Substance Use Coalition, Pepin County Together, Price County AODA/MH Coalition, Polk United, Chippewa County Health Communities, Barron County Community Coalition, Buffalo County Partnership Council, Alliance 2 HEAL, Community Coalition of Forest County, Douglas County Drug Prevention Coalition, Alliance for Substance Use Prevention of Langlade County, Eau Claire Health Alliance - Substance Misuse Action Team, Iron County AODA Prevention Coalition, Healthy WashCo (Community Alliance for Prevention), Giwii-minobimaadizimin Prevention Coalition, New Richmond School District, New Horizons Family Services LLC and Portage County Partnership for Prevention.

More information can be found by visiting their website at northwoodscoalition.org.