By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Barren County Schools is one of the 39 public school districts awarded an opioid recovery grant through the Public School Districts’ Opioid Recovery Trust.
“Public schools are on the front lines of the crisis, facing three overlapping challenges: children born with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome who require costly special education services; students coping with addicted or deceased family members; and students themselves struggling with addiction,” stated the trust’s press release that announced the grant recipients. “The new funding will help districts expand special education, mental health, and recovery supports so students can stay in school and on track.”
The high school’s Youth Services Center Coordinator Shelly Thomas secured the grant to “expand the district’s Resilience Factor Program, a family-centered initiative supporting students and families impacted by the opioid crisis,” a district press release stated. Communications Officer Heather Gardner said the grant amount was $422,290.
Led by Thomas the resilience program “connects at-risk students and their families with mental-health counseling, life-skills education, individualized family support plans, and community engagement projects.” The program was founded in 2021.
“The expanded program will continue monthly family meetings, counseling, and case management in partnership with local providers, and practical trainings such as financial literacy and Narcan/CPR/AED, while also removing barriers like transportation and access to basic needs,” the district press release stated.
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