You Are Prevention Resource Portal

The Challenge

Substance abuse prevention depends on conversations that are often difficult to start — between friends, between family members, and between community members and those at risk. The University of New England’s Center for Excellence in Health Innovation, working in partnership with Maine DHHS and the Maine CDC, needed a digital tool that could lower the barrier to those conversations: something people could reach for on their phones, that would give them localized resources, accurate clinical information, and practical guidance for initiating difficult conversations about substance use.

Our Approach

GovWebworks built the You Are Prevention platform as a mobile-first application and companion website using Drupal and PhoneGap for cross-platform mobile deployment. The platform was designed around the user’s situation: a short question flow helped users identify the most relevant localized resources and prevention tips based on their specific context. The resource index and FAQ drew on clinically accurate content from Maine CDC and Maine DHHS, ensuring that the information reaching users was grounded in public health evidence rather than generic advice. The design emphasized accessibility and approachability — the goal was to help people take a first step, not to deliver a comprehensive clinical intervention.

The Result

You Are Prevention launched in late 2017 as a mobile-first resource giving Maine residents — and the friends and family members of those at risk — a tool for accessing substance abuse prevention resources and starting difficult conversations. The localized resource index connected users to nearby services and support, while the clinically accurate information from Maine public health partners ensured the platform’s content could be trusted. The project reflected GovWebworks’ capacity to serve mission-driven clients in the health innovation space alongside state and local government.