Positive Directions Welcomes Prevention Expert to Team

 

Westport's Positive Directions is proud to announce a new member of their Prevention Department Team. Cathy Hazlett, MPH has been hired as Prevention Coordinator for Westport, Weston, and Wilton.  “Cathy came to us after having founded and successfully run an agency that focused on youth substance misuse prevention in Vermont’s rural White River Valley area.  To say we are lucky to have her on our team and serving our community would be an understatement” says Jennifer Hrbek, Executive Director for Positive Directions.  Since 2002, Cathy has built experience in youth substance misuse prevention and environmental strategies to achieve healthier communities regarding access to healthy foods and physical activity, and policies to prevent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug misuse. 

Her work with Positive Directions is focused primarily on building community capacity and the use of evidence-based strategies in Westport, Weston, and Wilton to reduce and prevent youth alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, prescription and other drug use. Cathy is particularly passionate about preventing tobacco use, including vaping/juuling among youth as she is a Tobacco Treatment Specialist. 

Denique Weidema-Lewis, Positive Directions’ Director of Prevention, shared “It’s so exciting to have Cathy as part of our team. Her wealth of prevention experience will definitely build upon the work being conducted in Westport, Weston, and Wilton. She has really hit the ground running; meeting key people throughout the communities to best inform and enhance current prevention initiatives.”

Cathy holds a Masters of Public Health from Temple University. She is a member of the American Public Health Association, Connecticut Public Health Association, and the Connecticut Association of Prevention Professionals.