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Commission proclaims Fentanyl Awareness Day; marks National Community Development Week
Summary
The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed April 29, 2025 as Fentanyl Awareness Day and recognized National Community Development Week, highlighting naloxone distribution and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME program impacts.
Chair Mike Kelly read two proclamations April 24 during the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners meeting: one declaring April 29, 2025 as Fentanyl Awareness Day and the other recognizing National Community Development Week (April 21–25, 2025).
The fentanyl proclamation acknowledged recent national progress in reducing opioid overdose deaths while urging continued community action against illicitly manufactured fentanyl and fake pills. Sierra Wright, community prevention coordinator with the Johnson County Mental Health Center and a member of the Johnson County Prevention and Recovery Coalition, said the overdose crisis has taken "our children, our neighbors, and our friends." Wright described local prevention work and urged community participation in awareness events. Abby Jackson, a prevention specialist with DECA (a nonprofit that distributes naloxone), told the board DECA distributed more than 41,000 naloxone kits in Kansas in 2024 and recently donated more than 1,000 kits to the county coalition; she said the kits are used for "leave‑behind" naloxone that first responders can give to families after a nonfatal overdose. The mental health center and partners plan a free naloxone training May 15 at the Olathe Public Library, Indian Creek branch.
County planners accepted a proclamation celebrating National Community Development Week on behalf of programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the HOME Investment Partnerships program. Jay Leipzig, director of Planning, Housing and Community Development, noted CDBG was established in 1974 and HOME in 1990. Leslie Davis, community development coordinator, presented cumulative program metrics: over the last decade she said more than 1,000,000 Johnson County residents have benefited from programs including about 2,700 home‑rehab projects, nearly 50,000 linear feet of sidewalk improvements and nearly 15,000 linear feet of sewer repairs.
The board encouraged residents and partners to participate in local events and to share stories about how community development funding has helped neighborhoods.
