Healthy Peabody Collaborative

05/30/2026

Breaking the stigma around mental health starts with conversation. 💚

In our community, we believe that it’s okay to not be okay—and even more important to talk about it. When we open up, we create space for others to feel seen, heard, and supported.

Let’s challenge the silence, replace judgment with understanding, and remind each other that no one has to struggle alone.

Together, we can build a stronger, more compassionate community. 🤝

05/28/2026

Check out the below training if you missed it last week!

The Pull of the Crowd: Helping Kids Stand Strong Against Peer Pressure

05/27/2026

05/20/2026

We’re rolling out the trusted adult campaign at the Higgins!

These Champions for Youth were identified by HPC middle school youth leaders.

Our young leaders told us some of what these staff members do on a daily basis to build meaningful relationships with them. Those actions are indicated on these posters that will be hung up in every cluster and other high traffic areas.

Research shows strong student-teacher relationships can lower teen substance use and feelings of loneliness, anxiety, or depression, as well as strengthen connection to school, academic performance, self-esteem, and helping behaviors.

See www.search-institute.org Developmental Relationships Framework for more information.

Our students have a large web of support of caring non-parent adults who are essential in helping them discover how to become their best selves.

05/19/2026

Today we made our 7th stop on the HPC Peabody Elementary School Spring (even though it felt more like summer!) Tour at McCarthy School!

We were joined by Audrey Gordon and Superintendent Josh Vadala representing the Rotary Club of Peabody, MA who presented 3 students with Asset Awards for their thoughtful submissions to the Grade 4 Positive Self-Talk essay contest. For their award winning essays, students received a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble to help build the Asset - Reading for Pleasure. We are so proud of them, and so are their peers, school staff and their families!

Sandi Drover from the Healthy Peabody Collaborative presented 3rd grade student Ryan with a bucket of art supplies for the awesome artwork he submitted to the contest where we asked students to draw a picture and tell us about someone they can count on. Ryan chose his Sensai! Sensai Chip received a Champion for Youth award earlier this year for being a positive influence in the life of a young person.

As an added bonus, we were able to present some McCarthy School staff with their Champion for Youth awards. These awards are given to individuals identified by kids in Peabody as someone who is making a positive impact in their lives. We need to continue to celebrate caring and supportive adults who help our kids build resilience allowing them to thrive despite hardship or setbacks. Congratulations to Mrs. LaHaye, Ms. Sargent, and Mrs. Houlden!

Thank you to McCarthy School for hosting us to shine a light on the building blocks of healthy youth development. It's important we continue to see children through a strength based lens and get them talking about the internal strengths they have that shape their inner monologue, which can profoundly impact their self-esteem, behavior, resilience, and mental health.

05/18/2026

Today we made our 6th stop on the HPC Peabody Elementary School Spring Tour at Brown School!

We were joined by Kerry Armstrong from the Rotary Club of Peabody, MA who presented 3 students with their Asset Awards for their thoughtful submissions to the Grade 4 Positive Self-Talk essay contest. For their award winning essays, students received a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble to help build the Asset - Reading for Pleasure. We are so proud of them, and so are their peers, school staff and their families!

Sara Grinnell from the City of Peabody Department of Social Services and Behavioral Health presented 3rd grade student Finn with a bucket of art supplies for the awesome artwork he submitted to the contest where we asked students to draw a picture and tell us about someone they can count on. Finn chose his family! Artistic expression is an important way kids can communicate individuality.

Thank you to Brown School for hosting us to shine a light on the building blocks of healthy youth development. It's important we continue to see children through a strength based lens and get them talking about the internal strengths they have that shape their inner monologue, which can profoundly impact their self-esteem, behavior, resilience, and mental health. We also need to continue to celebrate caring and supportive adults who help our kids to build resilience allowing them to thrive despite hardship or setbacks.

Congratulations to all!

05/13/2026

Empathy means taking a moment to consider how our words, tone, assumptions, and actions may affect someone else.

Empathy can be as simple as:

*Taking the time to greet someone sincerely.
*Looking at someone when you say hello.
*Giving a friend the benefit of the doubt.
*Correcting a mistake privately instead of publicly humiliating someone.
*Not assuming you know what someone is going through based on their mood, appearance, age, body, disability, or personal circumstances.
*Choosing words that solve a problem instead of creating one.

We must all try to empathize before we criticize. Ask someone what's wrong before telling them they're wrong. - Simon Sinek

05/12/2026

🧠 What is mental health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act—and how we handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions.

Just like physical health, it changes over time and deserves care and attention.

Taking care of your mental health can be as simple as:
✔ Getting enough sleep
✔ Talking to someone you trust
✔ Taking breaks when needed

💚 Taking care of your mind is not a luxury—it’s essential.

05/12/2026

Welcome Julio Rodriguez!

Welcome to the team Julio Rodriguez! Julio is our new Multilingual Behavioral Health & Substance Use Disorder Care Coordinator. Proficient in Spanish and English and fluent in Portuguese, Julio has experience in working with diverse and vulnerable populations, including individuals with mental health needs and barriers to services. He is skilled in outreach, client support, and cross-agency collaboration with a strong focus on connecting individuals and families to resources and improving overall well-being. We are excited to welcome him to our Social Services team and to the City of Peabody!

From left to right back row, Officer Dave McGovern, Peabody Police Community Police Officer & Downtown Liaison, Julio Rodriguez - Social Services Care Coordinator

From left to right middle row, Kendra Cimon - Social Services Regional Peer Support Outreach Coordinator, Caitlin Fitzpatrick - Social Services Care Coordinator, Sara Grinnell, Social Services Director

From left to right front row - Sandi Drover - Healthy Peabody Collaborative Outreach Coordinator, Leighanne Magnarelli - Social Services Mental Health & Substance Abuse Clinician

05/11/2026

The Healthy Peabody Collaborative and Peabody PROMISE through the City of Peabody Division of Social Services is excited to bring the "Pull of the Crowd: helping kids stand strong against peer pressure" training to Peabody! This is a free virtual training opportunity. Please register at be.teen-wise.com/peabody