The BAY Team, which now services East Providence, Barrington, Warren and Bristol, recently received grant money from the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals.

The federal grant — it totaled $1.4 million — was awarded to five regional prevention coalitions.

Previously, 34 organizations served as prevention task forces for their cities and towns. This revitalized system, comprised of seven regional prevention task forces, will be responsible for overseeing the planning and delivery of substance use prevention and behavioral health promotion activities within the municipalities that comprise the region.

The organizations will use the grant money to "assess community substance use prevention needs, resources, and behavioral health promotion.

Each will develop a capacity building plan to address gaps in resources or community readiness, as well as a local strategic plan. The Task Forces will implement evidence-based and best practice interventions based on the needs of the community, while continually evaluating the impact of their efforts."