Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Substance Abuse Prevention topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County to continue school substance‑abuse speaker program using opioid settlement funds
Summary
Supervisors approved an agreement with Speaks Sobriety LLC to provide school‑based substance‑abuse prevention presentations, funded by opioid settlement proceeds; the program will be scheduled during fall and spring and targets multiple county schools that requested presentations.
Saratoga County’s Health and Human Services committee approved a continuation of a school substance‑abuse speaker program, funded by opioid settlement dollars, that brings professional speakers into schools to connect with students about addiction and recovery.
Chairman Barrett described the program as a response to families affected by addiction who prioritized professional speakers in schools. Barrett said he has attended presentations and submitted letters from 10 schools praising the program’s impact. “I have 10 letters, from various schools where these presentations took place last year, all, exalting the very positive, experience that they’ve had with the program,” Barrett said.
The program is scheduled through the school year with fall and spring presentation windows. Barrett said the county opened the program to all schools last year after a pilot, though not all schools participated; staff earlier reached out to districts to determine interest. The cost will be covered by the county’s opioid settlement funds and the county will pass the payments through to the vendor, Speaks Sobriety LLC.
Committee members asked how schools are chosen; Barrett said all schools are offered the program and that participating schools sign up based on interest and scheduling availability. The committee approved the agreement by voice vote.
Barrett said the presentations “fill the auditoriums” and include large assemblies and smaller break‑out groups. County staff will coordinate schedules with interested schools and the vendor to deliver the program during the school year.
