Kids Escaping Drugs describes school-based interventions and evaluation results to Buffalo board
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Summary
Kids Escaping Drugs briefed the Buffalo board on free in-school programs (elementary resiliency, early-intervention, youth vaping, peer-to-peer materials) funded in part by an opiate-settlement grant; presenters reported a 94% participant recommendation rate and other preliminary impact data.
Jody Altman, executive director of Kids Escaping Drugs (KED), thanked Buffalo board members for enabling the organization’s work inside district schools and described a mix of youth- and adult-facing programming delivered free to students and families.
Carly Beal, KED’s Buffalo Public Schools liaison and a face-based program specialist, outlined youth services ranging from "Back to Basics" resiliency sessions for elementary students to early-intervention conversations for students affected by substance-related issues. She said youth vaping presentations — KED’s most requested offering — combine trend information, health science and discussion of how marketing targets young people.
KED presenters said their peer-to-peer documentary and healthy-choices bridge program aim to reduce stigma and increase help-seeking. They emphasized that programs are intervention-focused rather than prevention-only, and that services can be offered at schools, workplaces or KED’s Renaissance House campus.
An adult-facing presenter summarized KED’s "Dark Side of Social Media" module and other trainings for parents and educators, warning that social platforms have normalized and glamorized substance use and that drug-product trends change rapidly.
KED shared preliminary impact figures from an opiate-settlement-funded evaluation: 94% of respondents recommended continuing face-to-face programs; 79% found the face-to-face program very or extremely effective in raising awareness; 87% rated peer-to-peer activities as impactful. Presenters also noted that 24% of respondents reported a positive shift in student attitudes and 59% were unsure — figures KED said point to a need for more structured, long-term assessment.
Board members praised the work and asked whether KED participates in district committees such as suspension/diversion or youth-risk surveys. Presenters said they had been welcomed into the suspension/diversion committee and credited district staff, including Doctor Brown, for assisting rollout and coordination.
Several trustees encouraged deeper collaboration to integrate KED’s resources into district processes for attendance, suspensions and family engagement. No board action was taken; presenters offered to provide the board with supplemental materials and evaluation updates.
The board moved on after a brief question period and thanks to the presenters.