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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Blair County commissioners are on the verge of spending $10,715 from its National Opioid Settlement allocation toward a drug abuse prevention program aimed at county youth affected by trauma.
Judy Rosser, director of Blair County Drug & Alcohol Partnerships, asked commissioners Tuesday for the allocation to introduce a program called Support for Students Exposed to Trauma, offered by the Center for Safe and Resilient Schools and Workplaces of Los Angeles, California.
Rosser said she and her agency's advisory board are recommending the program in light of Blair County's results on the 2021 Pennsylvania Youth Survey. That survey, in comparison to 2017 results, showed an increase in the percentage of Blair County youth with mental health issues commonly associated with trauma.
Rosser said all the Blair County schools participated in the survey that asked students in sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades if they had engaged in self-harm, felt life wasn't worthwhile, felt they were no good or if they were inclined to judge themselves as failures.
"We're above most of the state averages," Rosser said.
Commissioners Chairman Bruce Erb, who said he attended the recent advisory meeting where the survey results were reviewed, described the findings as sobering.
"Things are regressing, and it is a concern," Erb said.
Rosser said the agency already has eight or nine ongoing efforts aimed at prevention and treatment of drug and alcohol abuse among youth. This program, she said, "would expand the toolbox" and cover the cost of training as many as 20 local people who would focus on the contributing trauma issues.
If Erb and fellow commissioners Laura Burke and Amy Webster approve Rosser's request when meeting Thursday, it will be their first vote to spend a portion of the county's opioid settlement allocation.
Based on earlier announcements, the county has received an opioid settlement check for $229,651, expected to be the first of annual payments stretching over 18 years. But that money has not yet been spent, with commissioners waiting for more information about the availability of other funds.
Rosser said Tuesday she is asking commissioners now for action because that will permit the Support for Students Exposed to Trauma training to be completed so it can be implemented during the coming school year.
Webster showed interest in the program.
"I think there's always been issues of trauma for kids and for years and years, it was swept under the rug," Webster said. "But I think it's become more noticeable in the last 10 to 20 years."
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.