Accomack officials back new opioid‑abatement grant to continue school‑based Operation Prevention program

The Accomack County Board of Supervisors voted March 19 to authorize the county administrator to apply for a Cooperative Partnership grant from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority to continue a regional opioid remediation program that includes the school‑based Operation Prevention curriculum.

County Administrator Mike Mason told the board the program is a tri‑party effort among Accomack County, Northampton County and the Eastern Shore Community Services Board and is funded by opioid settlement proceeds and grants from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority.

Carrie Phillips, senior prevention specialist with the Eastern Shore Community Services Board, told supervisors the Operation Prevention curriculum was delivered this school year in tenth‑grade classrooms in Accomack County Public Schools. Phillips said 194 tenth‑grade students were enrolled and 144 completed both pre‑ and post‑testing; the presenter reported an average pre‑test score of 3.44 out of 5 and an average post‑test score of 4.41 out of 5 across participating schools.

Phillips described the program’s instructional approach and objectives: creating a safe question‑and‑answer environment for students, explaining the difference between prescribed opioids and unregulated street drugs, discussing the dangers of fentanyl, and including messages about recovery and resources. ‘‘Ask me anything,’’ she said, describing how she frames classroom sessions to encourage student questions about substance use.

Becky Haney, a social worker with Accomack County Public Schools, summarized teacher and student feedback: teachers said session lengths (about 30–45 minutes) kept students engaged; students reported the material was relevant and that they welcomed more in‑depth information in tenth grade because they are driving and gaining independence.

Mimi Sajat, identified in the meeting as an executive director at the Community Services organization, gave outcome data supported by the grant funding: from July 1, 2024, to March 2025 the program expended $51,944 on clinical services and said it served 104 individuals against an original projection of 62; school‑based prevention spending was $34,538 and the program served 311 youth against a proposed 25. Those figures were presented to the board as program accomplishments under the current funding cycle.

Board action Supervisor Crockett moved and the board seconded a motion authorizing the county administrator to apply for another round of Cooperative Partnership funding from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority to support Operation Prevention and related services through fiscal year 2026. The motion carried unanimously.

Why it matters County staff said the regional program’s aims are to increase access to treatment and support services, raise awareness of available services, and prevent opioid misuse. Presenters emphasized that school‑based prevention and recovery messaging are central components aimed at reducing experimentation and overdose risk among youth.

Next steps If approved, staff will submit the grant application to the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority for the partnership grant that funds the program’s services. Program staff and the county will continue to report outcomes to the board; staff recommended continuing the program in school settings and said they will return with budget and operational details if the grant is awarded.

Ending: The board’s authorization allows the county to seek the next funding round; the county plans to continue reporting program metrics and outcomes to the board.