Mission

In 2020, with support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Paterson Prevention Project was launched. Led by Dr. Ijeoma Opara, this project aims to reduce substance use, increase access to mental health services and improve mental health outcomes for Paterson youth. The project is a 5-year community-based study with a goal to use data to understand substance use patterns and mental health outcomes of Paterson youth. The overall goal will be to develop a prevention intervention for the City of Paterson that addresses substance use and provides mental health resources.

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The project plans to achieve this by conducting:

  • Focus groups and individual interviews with eligible Paterson youth between the ages of 13-21 years old
  • Brief online and in-person surveys with Paterson youth
  • Neighborhood needs assessments to understand the influence of neighborhood characteristics on mental health and substance use
Acknowledgments: This study is supported by the National Institutes of Health Director’s Early Independence Award (DP5OD029636)

Preliminary findings of The Paterson Prevention Project show that youth want to the following:

Community

• Youth advocacy
• Beautification of city
• Safety

Social Support

• Peers
• Teachers
• Families

Resources

• Access to mental health
• Peer prevention education
• Safe spaces for youth

WE ARE RECRUITING!

Are you between the ages of 13-21 years old and want to be a part of our focus group? We are conducting our youth focus groups and interviews now! Via zoom or in person. Click here to find out if you are eligible and a SASH Lab member will contact you with 24 hours.
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Acknowledgments: This study is supported by the National Institutes of Health Director’s Early Independence Award (DP5OD029636); PI: IJEOMA OPARA)

COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD

Sharieff Ali Bugg

Executive Director of Growing in Grace Counseling Group

Indira Castillo

Child and Youth Worker of Paterson Youth Services Bureau

Stephanie Drag, MA, LAC, CPS

Associate Vice President, Prevention of The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources, a division of Children’s Aid and Family Services

Andriana Herrera

Project Manager for Paterson Coalition against Substance Abuse, Montclair State University

Tenee Joyner

Sr. Program Manager of Alternative Public Safety Strategies, Bureau of Administrative Services

Cristina Pagan, LCSW

Director of Paterson Youth Services Bureau

Evelyn Peña-Moreno, MSW

District Wide Community Outreach and Special Projects Coordinator of Paterson Public Schools

Dr. Robert J. Reid PHD

Principal Investigator and Director of Paterson Coalition against Substance Abuse Montclair

Dr. Zatiti Moody, EdD

Principal of College Achieve Public Schools (CAPS) High School

Zellie Thomas

Executive Director of Black Lives Matter Paterson

Jim Walsh, BS Sociology

Director of Community Engagement of Oasisr

YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD

The youth advisory board consists of passionate youth that live either in Paterson or in the surrounding areas of Paterson. Our youth advisory board members review our study materials, engage in advocacy projects, and help us recruit youth who want their voices to be heard.

Madison Anthony

Passaic County Technical Institutev

Isabell Bello

Passaic County Community College

Lizbeth Garcia

Paramus Catholic

Melanie Gonzalez

Passaic County Technical Institute

Kathy Ramos

Passaic County Technical Institute

Linda Rodriguez

Rutgers University

Leidy Rodriguez

Monmouth University

Juray Scott

Paterson County Technical Institute

Fhameda Sultan

Rutgers University – New Brunswick

Black Lives Matter Paterson Harm Reduction Center Program Evaluation

In 2023, our lab evaluated Black Lives Matter (BLM) Paterson’s Harm Reduction Center Program by identifying service gaps and strengths. Founded in 2016, BLM Paterson is a Black youth-led organization offering mutual aid, harm reduction, and community support. Our team conducted interviews with clients and staff to assess experiences and program impact, and after analyzing the data, we presented our findings with the BLM Paterson chapter.  

A Guide to Talking with Your Daughter About Healthy Romantic Relationships

A Latinx Parent Advisory Board was created to better understand the strengths and potential gaps that Latinx parents/guardians have with their adolescent daughters about healthy romantic relationships. The insight from the advisory board will be used to design an English and Spanish language toolkit to foster communication between Latinx parents and daughters about romantic relationships.

The five-year NIH grant, completed in 2025, has made a meaningful impact in the City of Paterson. We look forward to sharing upcoming findings, reports, and resources.

highlights