Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Early Childhood Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Save the Children asks Jackson County to direct opioid-abatement funds to early-childhood services
Summary
Save the Children told the Jackson County Fiscal Court it can use opioid-abatement money to expand early-childhood supports and asked the court to back an application to the judge/executive for the funds.
Save the Children representatives described programs that serve young children in Jackson County and requested the county direct opioid-abatement funding to those services.
Representatives said Save the Children operates early-childhood coordinators in each elementary school, provides home visits to expectant mothers and children ages 0–3, runs a monthly book-bag exchange for ages 3–5, offers in-school tutors and AmeriCorps Seniors who mentor children, and operates after-school tutoring programs. The presenter said about 450 children were enrolled in county programs at the time of the report and staff expect enrollment to rise to over 600 with planned new initiatives.
The presenter linked adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and opioid exposure—parental incarceration, overdose, family violence—and said Save the Children had submitted a request to the judge/executive asking that opioid-abatement funds be used to expand proven interventions for children impacted by opioid use. The group said 100% of the requested money would be used for children affected by opioid use because they are already connected to the families who would benefit.
County officials acknowledged receipt of the detailed request and said the packet would be reviewed with state contacts; no formal appropriation or commitment of county funds was made during the meeting. The judge/executive told Save the Children the request looked “very good” and that he planned to discuss it with state officials during an upcoming meeting.
