Town's Drug-Free Grants Coordinator to Say Farewell

If you've been to even one town-driven event that involved teens, you've met Kristin Brooks, who works energetically as the town's Drug-Free Communities Grant Coordinator and leads Partners in Community (PiC), formerly known as the First Selectman's Task Force on Substance Abuse. 

Brooks recently announced that she will be leaving not only the town but the state to move to Ohio for a new opportunity and new challenges. Her last day will be May 31, 2013.

"While I am excited for this new opportunity I am sad to leave Clinton and PiC. Everyone that I have collaborated with in my time as DFC coordinator has inspired and energized me!," she said in an email to her PiC members. 

One of Kristin's roles is to build a healthy community by helping kids feel connected to their town and decreasing their tendencies and opportunities to turn towards substance abuse. She has held this role since Nov. of 2009 and today works out of the historic Academy Building which also houses the town's Social Services Department.

By working through groups such as PiC, the PTA, the town's Parks & Recreation Department, local churches and other organizations, Brooks is front and center with kids, helping them make healthy choices and decisions and providing them with the tools to "Just Say No."

Brooks is a homegrown asset herself, having grown up in Clinton. She graduated from The Morgan School and received her B.A. from UConn. She is continuing her education in pursuit of a masters in psychology with a concentration in community psychology.  

While at Morgan, she was one of three student representatives on the First Selectman's task force, a Peer Advocate, involved in Summer Partners, a member of SADD, and on the Student Council - all groups she works with today.

Prior to her role in Clinton, Brooks was the community liaison to Clinton and five other towns for the Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council.  She is also a blogger for the PiC organization on Patch.