BEDFORD – During Tuesday morning’s commissioners’ meeting, David Spencer, Regional Development Officer for Youth First, and Amanda May, Principal of Mitchell Junior High, made a formal request for $20,000 in funding from the county’s opioid grant fund. The funds would support Youth First’s prevention model in collaboration with Mitchell Community Schools.
Youth First, an organization dedicated to reducing the risk factors leading to addiction, overdoses, and crime, has embedded highly trained mental health professionals and evidence-based prevention programs in all four Mitchell School buildings. The initiative equips children and their families with essential skills, resources, and relationships to foster healthier, safer, and drug-free schools and communities.
“The programs are designed to reduce risk factors and provide support to our youth. Annual independent evaluations confirm that we are equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to succeed,” said Spencer.
The partnership between Youth First and Mitchell Schools was launched with support from Hoosier Uplands and a Department of Education Counseling grant. However, that grant will conclude next school year, and Spencer emphasized the continued need for resources to ensure the safety of students in the community.
“The grant will end next school year, but there is still more work to do to protect our young people from the ravages of drug abuse,” Spencer added. “The funds we are requesting will help extend Youth First’s services beyond the conclusion of the counseling grant.”
Commissioner President Rodney Fish expressed support for initiatives that benefit students and schools. Still, he cautioned that many programs had submitted applications for the funds, and a review of all requests would be necessary. “I favor promoting anything that helps our students and school systems,” Fish said. “We will accept your application and include it in the many others we have received, but we must review our funding. Many good programs have submitted applications for these funds, and I am not sure we will have all the funds we need to help everyone.”
Youth First’s funding request will be decided after the commissioners review all applications.
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