Newton County Drug Free Communities Grant Coordinator Bailey Taylor, introduced herself at the December meeting of the Jasper School District Wellness Committee. Bailey shared information about her new role as a member of the school district's staff. She is housed at the east campus building, at Jasper School, but will serve the community and students throughout the county.
Taylor reported she will be engaging students 9-18 years old with a focus being on presenting information on risks involving the misuse of alcohol and prescription drugs. She said the drug education program will later address other substances, but explained alcohol and prescription drugs were the basis of the grant application.
Taylor said she plans to coordinate with all the schools for presentations, resources, hosting meetings and community events.
Her plan is to hopefully do a “kick off” event in January. More information will be coming.
The committee discussed Youth Prevention Coalitions on campuses that would be a student-led prevention group, and Taylor offered her assistance with the help of Kyle Evatt with the North Arkansas Partnership for Health Education (NAPHE) as the prevention coalition contact for the area.
