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Fentanyl poisoning remains a serious concern across our county, state, and nation. Tragically, we continue to hear of fentanyl-related accidental overdoses and in some cases, deaths, within our youth population.
The state of California recently announced a Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl & Opioid Crisis. It includes funding for Naloxone distribution; grants for education, testing, recovery, and support services; and expanded efforts to raise awareness in the schools. We will keep you posted as we learn more about these critical efforts.
Along with being laced into counterfeit prescription pills, fentanyl is popping up in other drugs. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a Public Safety Alert about a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine - also known as “Tranq” - a powerful sedative approved for veterinary use. Because xylazine is not an opioid, Naloxone (Narcan) does not reverse its effects.
As educators, we know a key part of a multi-faceted, community-wide effort is getting facts and information into the hands of students and their families – our goal is to prevent overdoses and deaths from ever occurring.
At the county schools level, we hosted a panel discussion on fentanyl poisoning prevention and response. View the forum in English, Spanish, and Mixteco. Please help us share these resources with your family, friends and neighbors.
We encourage you to review the CDC's Facts about Fentanyl and follow this guide for Talking to Your Child About Fentanyl. Additional support, information and resources provided by the county Department of Behavioral Wellness can be accessed via their Fentanyl is Forever campaign website.You can read the April edition of my countywide community newsletter HERE.
Sincerely,
Dr. Susan Salcido, County Superintendent of Schools
(805) 964-4711
www.sbceo.org
ssalcido@sbceo.org
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Children & Family Resource Services
Welcome Every Baby nurses made 900 maternal-infant home visits last year. Health Linkages provided 850 preschoolers with health screenings, 4,200 students had dental screenings and 200 children received braces. Promotores helped 7,000 individuals.
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Children's Creative Project
The Children’s Creative Project supports TK-12 arts education in Santa Barbara County schools. In 2019-2020 this included 400 performances and arts workshops for 50,000 children at 90 school sites. Throughout the pandemic, CCP has provided critical arts programming through virtual offerings and is eager to return to in-person experiences this school year. In addition to performances and workshops, CCP hosts large events with touring national and international artists. CCP also hosts the annual I Madonnari Festival to raise additional funds for in-school arts education.
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Partners in Education
The mission of Partners in Education is to connect businesses and volunteers with Santa Barbara County schools in ways that prepare students for the world ahead. Through our programming, 332,787 total volunteer hours were delivered to more than 100 schools and afterschool programs; 893 high school students have received Paid Job Readiness Training and 770 have been matched with internships; and 14,000 computers have been distributed to individuals and families.
