MCPS to Receive Grant Funding for Heroin and Opioid Prevention

Montgomery County Public Schools will be getting grant funding for heroin and opioid prevention.

The Heroin and Opioid Prevention grant totals up to more than $540,000 and will provide students, their families, and the community with information and resources on substance abuse through training, and workshops. There will also be a public awareness campaign, and Narcan will be supplied at each school location throughout the county. Narcan also known as Naloxone – is a nasal spray used for emergency treatment to reverse an opioid overdose.

The County Council recently voted in favor of the grant for it to proceed.

In FY 2019, Governor Larry Hogan included an appropriation of funds for the Maryland State Department of Education and awarded grants to local school systems to implement policy and conduct training for Heroin and Opioid addiction. Montgomery County Public Schools received grant funding under this program.

Funding will be used to purchase The Botvin Lifeskills Training Program to teach students in elementary, middle, and high schools the skills they need to navigate life’s challenges and to effectively manage stress. According to officials, research on the Botvin Lifeskills Training Program has demonstrated long-term effects on reducing youth substance use, as well as decreasing aggressive and delinquent behavior. Botvin Lifeskills Training also includes parent/guardian education and workshops. Funding will be used to bring in speakers to present up-to-date information and resources on substance use to students, families, and staff members.

In addition, funding also will be used to relaunch a public awareness campaign that was piloted in 2018. Resources, the website, and posters will be updated to be more user-friendly and appealing to youth. This public awareness campaign will target movie theaters, public service announcements on buses, and informational posters for distribution in schools and the community according to officials.

As a grant award, there is no effect on the County’s current or future maintenance of effort requirements according to officials.

To see the County Council Agenda regarding The Heroin and Opioid Prevention grant click here.

About Jordan Lindsay

Jordan Lindsay is a Reporter for My MC Media. Let her help tell your story by emailing jlindsay@mymcmedia.org

View all posts by Jordan Lindsay