Commissioners approve support for full time Youth Coordinator
MARSHALL COUNTY — During the most recent meeting of the Marshall County Commissioners, annette Haining, Tobacco Education Coordinator for Marshall County, requested that the Commissioners use the unrestricted funds from the Opioid Settlement to supplement Youth Coordinator Jalysa Gibson’s position to be full time.
Gibson works in all seven school districts for the past two years to help mitigate the vaping epidemic that is plaguing Marshall County youth.
Haining and Gibson have met with the School Resource Officers and with administration to deal with the situation.
Haining said that some students are already addicted by high school. “It’s to the point of addiction.”
Haining illustrated that while Gibson has provided multiple educational resources to the children, she needs to be full time. “It’s too many schools - too many kids - for one full time person to go in.”
Haining said that intervention and education needs to start in lower grades - 5th and 6th. “Like I said before, the kids in the High School are already addicted. That is a whole different issue.”
Haining stated that to add this initiative to educators’ already full plates would be an unrealistic demand on their time.
“by placing Jalysa in a full time role, she would be able to visit more schools, do education in the 5th and 6th grade, do fun activities with the kids to promote living a healthier life without vaping. Kids like it when someone is there for them. Even how small it may be - you show attention to a kid, you compliment them, you encourage them - they love it.” She added that they also like the food and the swag that promote healthier living.
When Haining has asked inmates at the Marshall County Jail what started them on the path to addiction 95% of them told her it was nicotine with a few starting as young as ten years old. Their addiction progressed to harder substances until they ended up incarcerated. “I don’t think that’s where we want our youth to really end up in the Marshall County Jail - or any other jail - or dead from overdoses.”
She requested the unrestricted Opioid Settlement Funds to supplement Gibson’s salary so she could go full time to serve children Marshall County schools. “It takes a village to raise and child and I’m asking you for your help to raise these kids in the way that they should go.”
The amount of unrestricted funds was at $24,756.87.”You have this sitting here right now. The kids need help. We need to educate. We need to stop this.”
Haining continues to work on policies and is working with State Representatives to pass bills to help mitigate the impact. “Currently we have a horrible, horrible situation here. So I am reaching out to you to help me with these
kids.”
Gibson’s current salary is grant funded through Tobacco Education through the State of Indiana. Both Gibson and Haining are based at Saint Joseph Health Systems.
Marshall County Administrator Sandy Dunfee confirmed to the Commissioners that the goal is for the Marshall County Health Department to oversee the Tobacco Education Coordinator team when the grant is renewed next.
In the mean time, Haining continues to apply for grants to supplement needs, but she needs more help. “I need her (Gibson). Marshall County needs her.”
Commissioner Kevin Overmyer made a motion to support Haining’s request for $24,756.87 from the Restricted Opioid Settlement Fund to supplement Gibson’s employment to increase her to full time status.
His motion was seconded and approved unanimously. Attorney Jim Clevenger will draft papers to finalize the decision. Haining will obtain an invoice from Saint Joseph Health System for the supplemental wage. The final agreement will be between Marshall County and Saint Joseph Health System.