Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Prevention topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
WestCare outlines expansion of school-based prevention programs in Laredo, seeks facilitators
Summary
At a Laredo prevention coalition meeting WestCare Texas (partnered with Ella Austin) presented school-based prevention work supported by DFC, CARA and HHSC grants, described recent campus rollouts and volunteer facilitator opportunities (a $20 stipend per class), and listed upcoming community events and trainings.
WestCare Texas representatives presented an overview of the nonprofit’s prevention and recovery services and outlined recent and planned school rollouts during the coalition’s meeting in Laredo.
The presentation, by Earl Medina, project manager and prevention specialist, described WestCare’s partnership with Ella Austin Community Center and said the organization provides substance-use treatment, mental-health supports, Narcan training, youth-advisory programming and school-based life-skills curricula. "We empower everyone… by uplifting the human spirit," Medina said, explaining the group’s mission and services.
Why it matters: WestCare told coalition members it has been deploying evidence-based life-skills programming on local campuses and that those school-site activities count toward grant deliverables for Drug-Free Communities and other awards. Presenters said that reduced school-counselor staffing increases demand for external prevention services, making the nonprofit’s school work more consequential.
Medina listed recent campus engagements including Salvador Garcia Middle School and Jose Valdez High School and said United South’s 9th-grade campus and LBJ’s 9th-grade campus have hosted sessions; WestCare said it plans additional spring and fall rollouts at Alexander and other high-school campuses. He described the DFC youth advisory council—two students present at the meeting—and said students presenting directly to school boards has amplified prevention messaging.
The organization identified several active grants supporting local work (Drug-Free Communities, a Sober Truth prevention grant, CARA, and an HHSC award) and said it is pursuing an additional prevention grant. Medina also asked for community volunteers to serve as class facilitators; volunteers will receive a $20 stipend per class and recognition, and the role can lead to certification opportunities. "If you do become a facilitator, we do go to the schools… those that are becoming volunteer facilitators do get a stipend of $20 per class," he said.
WestCare also listed near-term community events and collaborations, including back-to-school events at United South and El Salvador middle school, a South Side pride/healthcare event, and plans for a National Night Out at a South Side Walmart. Medina invited coalition members to attend a Drug-Free Communities coalition meeting scheduled for the following day at noon and encouraged agencies to share event information via the coalition’s contact points.
The presentation closed with WestCare offering contact names for follow-up and volunteer registration. Coalition members thanked presenters and agreed to coordinate on outreach calendars. The organization said it will return with more details at upcoming meetings.
