The City of Edmond is implementing new measures to address youth substance abuse and related challenges, supported by a grant from the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board. The initiative involves collaboration between the Edmond Municipal Juvenile Court and Edmond Family Counseling.
Sheila Stinnett, executive director of Edmond Family Counseling, noted an increase in juvenile charges since the COVID pandemic, particularly those related to depression and marijuana use. This prompted city leaders to focus on providing comprehensive support for young people facing substance-related violations and mental health issues.
Christy R. Batterson, Edmond’s director of Housing and Community Resources, emphasized the importance of connecting youths with necessary resources: "We're trying to help get these kiddos connected quicker to whatever they need so they can be successful human beings and adults."
A notable feature of the program is having counselors present in courtrooms. Yolanda Whitlow, Edmond's Court Administrator, highlighted the significance of personal connections for children's success: "We're actually able to turn to the juvenile and say, ‘Here's the human being who can give you whatever information you need,’... it takes some of that anxiety out of the parent and the youth."
Batterson advocated for community partnerships due to budget constraints: "I'm a Number One advocate of partners because the City can't always do and doesn't have the capacity... I'm all about bringing those community partners in so they can provide those services without undue stress of worrying where the money is coming from."
Stinnett reported positive outcomes from integrating counselors into courtrooms: “It's a nice warm hand-off, and from the very beginning of their interaction, the families are much more engaged.”
The program offers wraparound services addressing various risk factors through interventions like early intervention drug refusal skills, pro-active decision-making strategies, emotional regulation tools, study skills programs, tutoring programs, and mental health support.
Stinnett stated: "For our kids who are in the system for that probationary time... what they learn they will take forward and it makes our community better across all different environments."
This initiative is part of a broader $11 million effort across Oklahoma to combat opioid addiction. In 2022 alone, nearly 800 opioid-related deaths were recorded in Oklahoma.
Whitlow expressed optimism about transforming current challenges into future successes: "The goal is to try to turn their negative today into a positive tomorrow by planting positive useful tools within that family dynamics... This is just the beginning to a positive tomorrow."
The Political Subdivisions Opioid Abatement Grants Act was enacted by Oklahoma's Legislature in 2020. It established an Opioid Abatement Board responsible for distributing settlement funds aimed at fighting opioid addiction comprehensively through cooperation with political subdivisions.
These grants fund treatment programs addressing co-occurring disorders and mental health issues while also focusing on education about opioid abuse prevention. They also support efforts for proper prescription practices as well as strategies aimed at reducing narcotics supply statewide.
For further details on this initiative or others funded under this act visit Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Grant webpage.