Committee approves $6,000 opioid-settlement grant request to start DARE in Ithaca schools

The Richland County Community and Health Services Standing Committee voted to approve a $6,000 opioid settlement grant request from the sheriff's office to start a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program in the Ithaca schools and forwarded the request to the full County Board for consideration.

The decision came after Lieutenant Mike, who said he submitted the application on behalf of the sheriff's office, summarized the request and why his office selected DARE. "We submitted an application for the grants, in the amount of $6,000 to start a DARE program," he said. He told the committee that the county had previously taught a program called Counteract and had purchased supplies in advance so instruction could continue while staff evaluated alternatives.

Lieutenant Mike described DARE as a widely used, evidence-based curriculum that has been updated in recent years. "One of the unique programs that actually addresses vaping, which is a big problem in our schools," he said, adding that DARE materials include age-specific videos and lesson content the schools had already asked the sheriff's office to use in a summer program.

He provided a cost breakdown the committee received as part of the application: a $12.50 registration fee for the instructor training; about $1,000 estimated for a 10-night hotel stay; workbook costs (100 booklets purchased for $165); supplies estimated at $400; and officer compensation for two weeks of training listed at just under $3,000, which together reached the $6,000 request. Lieutenant Mike also said he spoke with the Ithaca school district and that the district had not committed funds specifically for replacing the previous Counteract materials; the district typically paid for small items such as booklets or shirts from its own budget.

A retired elementary teacher who spoke during the committee discussion offered support for the program, saying, "It's a very good program." Committee member Mary asked whether other nearby schools would be covered; Lieutenant Mike replied that the county program would be delivered only in Ithaca schools and that Richland Center police already run a local program in the Richland Center schools.

Committee members voiced no objections. After a motion and second (no mover or second recorded in the transcript), the committee voted "aye" and the measure was approved and forwarded to the County Board for final action.

The request will appear on the County Board agenda; the committee recorded no conditions on the referral and did not set an implementation timetable. The application materials included the $6,000 budget breakdown described to the committee.