South Country Schools COMPASS Unity project director Atisha Wilkins Robinson recently helped re-secure a DFC Drug-Free Communities Grant in the amount of $125,000 for the next five years. The funding is to help communities stay drug free through health and human services.
“One of the critical reasons for writing the grant is my passion for protecting and educating our youth, who are our leaders of tomorrow,” she said, noting her educational background is in social work, and mental health plays a significant role in utilizing the grant funds to provide additional support. “Mental health challenges, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, can play a significant role in youth making poor decisions, including underage drinking and substance misuse. Understanding the connection between emotional well-being and risky behaviors is critical to helping students make healthier choices. The initiative will provide resources on positively managing mental health, offering tools to cope with peer pressure and emotional struggles without resorting to substance use.”
The school district, Robinson said, was previously awarded the grant and was in jeopardy of losing it now in year six; however, it will now be re-awarded for another five years through year 10.
“What I love about working with a grant is that it allows us to do a lot more than what we can do with budget constraints. Substance abuse is a really important topic in this era of mental health,” superintendent of schools Antonio Santana said. “Fortunately, we have [Robinson], who can dedicate her entire time to this cause. Her sole purpose here is drug awareness and prevention.”
The grant, Robinson said, will also help the district target areas in need, such as students with learning disabilities and the Hispanic and LGBTQ+ populations, by providing targeted education approaches and reaching all classrooms.
“We are going to tailor-make the resources and activities to help send that message to students with learning disabilities; it needs to be done differently so that they can comprehend the information,” she explained.
Another aspect, she said, is providing resources for vaping, which is currently lacking in outdated school resources.
Additionally, this week, from Oct. 28 to Oct. 31, the district also held their Red Ribbon Week, promoting students to live healthy and drug free. The week included themed spirit days, bracelet giveaways, and assemblies and presentations as well as workshops.
“We are able to advocate for drug-free choices, healthy decisions, and to also make sure they understand their body is still developing; harmful effects of their lungs, heart, and brain could be affected,” she said. “We want to education them on making healthy choices so they can go through their school years and graduate and live a successful life.”
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