Partnership Between the Academy for Nature and Nurture PreventionLinks
A Collaborative Approach to Resilience, Prevention, and Recovery
The Academy for Nature and Nurture is advancing PreventionLinks’ mission through interdisciplinary learning, community engagement, and strategic partnership.
A partnership that strengthens both organizations Prevention Links’ longstanding collaboration with Seton Hall University, established under CEO Morgan Thompson's leadership, shows how higher education and community-based organizations can work together to address complex social challenges. Through student placements, applied research, and community-focused projects, this partnership connects academic learning with the practical needs of individuals, families, and communities affected by addiction, mental health challenges, and related social determinants of well-being.
The collaboration directly aligns with Prevention Links’ mission to build healthy, resilient communities through education, family strengthening, and addiction recovery support. It also reflects our vision of thriving New Jersey communities free from the effects of addiction and our core values of Accessibility, Compassion, Creating Community, and Lived Experience.
Seton Hall’s Academy for Nature and Nurture: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Resilience provides a complementary framework for this work by bringing together multiple disciplines to explore resilience, mental health, and healthy coping strategies. The partnership is reciprocal: students gain practical experience, professional development, and a deeper understanding of community needs, while Prevention Links gains fresh perspectives, research-informed ideas, outreach strategies, and opportunities to strengthen programs and organizational planning.
Currently, four additional Seton Hall students are placed across Prevention Links’ three departments, with most in Recovery Services, thereby extending the partnership’s impact across the organization.
Student Work in Action
From Learning to Organizational Impact
The students’ recent presentations demonstrate how academic projects can translate into practical opportunities for Prevention Links to advance its mission.
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Molly Kostelnik — Recovery Through Faith Communities
Molly’s presentation, "An Empty Mind at Empty Cloud:, explored the role of faith communities in recovery, including Buddhist practices, mindfulness, community support, harm reduction, and holistic care. Her proposed outreach activities included reducing addiction stigma, increasing awareness of recovery resources, and partnering with Recovery Dharma for educational activities, wellness kits, and peer support discussions.
Strategic application: Incorporate faith-based and culturally responsive community partnerships into Recovery Services planning to expand referral pathways and recovery support opportunities beyond traditional service settings. -
Aryaki Dixit — School Outreach and Engagement
Aryaki’s Outreach and Engagement Plan for Prevention Links proposed strengthening connections between schools and addiction prevention and recovery services through school workshops, parent education, peer support programs, and collaboration with school counselors. The plan emphasizes early intervention, stigma reduction, cultural sensitivity, and accessible support systems.
Strategic Application
Prevention and youth-focused planning will integrate school-based partnerships and early intervention strategies to strengthen coordination among students, families, educators, counselors, and Prevention Links programs.
Integrating the Partnership into Prevention Links’ Strategic Planning
These projects show how student placements can support the organization’s five-year strategic priorities and the goal of operating as One Organization, One Mission.
- Program Innovation: Pilot promising student-developed initiatives, evaluate outcomes, and incorporate effective practices into departmental work plans.
- Community Partnerships: Expand collaboration with schools, faith communities, universities, and other community stakeholders to improve access to prevention and recovery resources.
- Research and Evaluation: Engage students in identifying community needs, reviewing evidence-informed approaches, assessing service gaps, and developing measurable program outcomes.
- Cross-Department Collaboration: Use student projects to identify opportunities for shared resources, coordinated referrals, and integrated services across Student Support Services, Family Success Services, and Recovery Services.
- Workforce Development: Strengthen the student-to-professional pipeline by offering meaningful field experience, mentorship, and exposure to community-based service delivery.
Looking Ahead
PreventionLinks and Seton Hall University can formalize student placements as a strategic resource by aligning each placement with departmental priorities, identifying a staff mentor, establishing deliverables, and presenting student findings to leadership. Future projects can be tied directly to the five-year strategic plan, with measurable goals and opportunities to pilot, evaluate, and scale successful initiatives.
This partnership's value extends beyond student learning. It creates a mutually beneficial model in which academic inquiry informs real-world practice, Prevention Links strengthens its programs and strategic direction, and students develop the skills and understanding needed to become future leaders in prevention, family strengthening, and recovery support.