This resource corresponds to Module 7.

The County
Somerset County (pop: 50,000) is a large, sprawling (2,600 square miles) county located in the heavily forested region of northern New England. Residents are spread out across three small towns and numerous, smaller villages (populations less than 500). Most villages are 20-30 miles apart, precluding frequent travel between them—particularly during the harsh winter months.

Most people living in Somerset have done so for generations. Those with jobs tend to work in the construction and manufacturing industries. Twenty-six percent of families fall below the federal poverty line (compared to 10% nationally); the rest are best described as working class. Most residents are white, with French and Polish ancestry, though there is a slowly-growing Southeast Asian immigrant population.

The Community
Winslow Falls is a small village (pop. 350) located near Somerset’s southern border—100 miles from the nearest town and 20 miles from the nearest village. Last year marked the 100-year birthday of the Winslow Lumber Mill, the village’s sole industry and primary employer. Downtown Winslow—a popular hang-out for village teens—consists of a general store, post office, pharmacy, church, and the town hall.

Winslow residents describe their community as “neighborly, but small.” According to one Winslow native, “Most of us have known one another since childhood. And everyone knows what everyone else is doing. Sometimes, though, it’s best to look the other way and respect people’s privacy.”

Community activities tend to center on church life. Most residents—young and old—attend regular Sunday church services and bible study classes. Church-sponsored quilting bees, picnics, and “family video nights” provide recreation for many. An active group of parishioners also meet monthly with parishioners from several neighboring villages “to provide help where it’s needed.” The group runs a soup kitchen on holidays, visits the sick and depressed, and organizes occasional youth activities. One parishioner, in particular, has taken the lead in providing much-needed youth substance abuse services: Jonathan Kowalski, a social worker, founded a teen support group for youth from Winslow Falls and the surrounding area.

Substance Abuse
For some time now, residents of Somerset County have been concerned by an increase in substance abuse—mainly alcohol abuse—among both adults and adolescents. Though drinking is commonplace and underage drinking largely condoned, a rise in alcohol-related vandalism and snowmobile accidents (including one involving a Winslow Falls youth) has brought the issue of underage drinking to the forefront.

Last year’s youth risk behavior survey (YRBS) of students in grades 8–12 revealed the following: 63% of students reported having had one alcoholic drink in the past 30 days, 43% reported binging on alcohol, 27% reported smoking marijuana one or more times, and 18% smoked cigarettes. The survey also revealed a slight increase in methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine use. This increase was attributed to a growing number of clandestine labs moving into the county from cities such as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.

Health and Social Services
Like most towns in Somerset, Winslow Falls is without a local doctor. Residents must travel 24 miles to the closest medical center for routine care and 100 miles for specialized substance abuse and mental health treatment services. Because these resources are so far away, Mr. Kowalski’s support group for teens with substance abuse problems addresses a vital need.

Mr. Kowalski also teams up regularly with Phil McKenzie, Director of Kids First, a 10-year-old youth development council that serves southern Somerset County. Kids First offers a variety of activities designed to keep youth and families connected, including a brief series of family management classes once per year and a program to help children assume extra responsibility at home.

The Schools
Somerset County has six regional middle/high schools (grades 7–12). Each school has between 1,250 and 1,500 students. Winslow teens attend a high school 22 miles away, accessible by a county school bus (pick-up in front of town hall is at 6:30 am).

The county’s public schools have a dedicated faculty. Staff turnover is low, with nearly half of the teachers within 5 years of retirement. Yet many faculty express concern that their undergraduate training hadn’t adequately prepared them to address the complex personal and social issues students currently bring to the classroom. They also struggle with how to address these problems in the context of growing demands for higher achievement scores. According to one veteran teacher, “We want to do what’s right by the kids, but there just aren’t enough hours in the day!” Many teachers are burning out and there are very few people willing to take their place.

The school system provides one student assistance counselor per 2500 kids (one for every two schools). S/he serves as the primary referral mechanism for students in need. S/he also provides counseling to students without access to outside services.

The Media
The local media consist of a community cable access channel, a daily paper in Winslow Falls, several weekly community papers in other parts of the state, and a few local radio stations. The county also benefits from a neighboring media market that has three network-affiliated stations, a number of radio stations, and a daily newspaper.

Please return to Activity 7: Applying Prevention in a Rural Setting.