About the Award

Minnesota Prevention Achievement Awards are given annually to individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to substance misuse prevention efforts in Minnesota. These awards recognize the achievements and accomplishments of those preventing substance misuse before it starts and those fostering policy, systems, and environmental-level changes that support healthy community norms.

Awards are given in four categories:
  • Emerging Leaders Award (for youth 18 and younger)
  • Hero Award (for adults 19 and older)
  • Community Prevention Award (for a coalition, partnership, or organization)
  • Career Achievement Award (for an individual who has made significant contributions over the course of their prevention career)
Winners are selected based on their contributions and commitment to the prevention field based on one or more of the criteria below. We understand that these criteria look different in every community and welcome nominations from diverse perspectives.
  • Leadership
  • Impact and innovation
  • Advocacy/policy, systems, and environmental change
  • Equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts
  • Partnership
Nominations will be accepted year round by the Prevention Achievement Award Committee and announced annually at the Minnesota Prevention Program Sharing Conference in October. To be considered for the upcoming conference, nominations must be received by September 12. Any nominations received after that date will be considered for the following year’s conference.

Nomination guidelines:
  • Nominee must be from Minnesota
  • An individual may not receive an award more than once (the exception being the Career Achievement Award)
  • Self-nominations are welcomed
  • Nominee may have contributed to prevention in any capacity, as a volunteer or in a paid position

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