By Quinn O’Hara

Photo by Quinn O’Hara

On April 17 the Clay Counts Coalition met for their regular monthly meeting.

USD 379 Councilor Lisa Last presented on the statistics from the recent Kansas Communities That Care student survey, which was completed by 85% of Clay County students. Survey results report a significant drop in students’ substance use from previous surveys. 15.8% of student participants expressed feeling unsafe at school- a 3.4% increase from 2023 and 2.6% higher than the current statewide average.

Grow Clay County’s Tracey Meyers reported on the Healthy Children, Healthy Communities Fair taking place on the Clay County Courthouse Square on June 6th. Meyers said Grow Clay County and several other community partners and organizations will be present to assist individuals in enrolling in Medicaid and several other public services.

Community Mobilizer Lori Martin reported on Red Balloon Day, which will take place at the Clay County Health Department. On the morning of May 1st, Grow Clay County will be hosting the May Wake Up Wednesday, and the Health Department will be organizing a drug takeback day soon after. Martin said those who surrender their unused prescription drugs will receive a free box of Narcan, a lifesaving drug that can be used to temporarily revive an individual suffering from an overdose.

Heather Tremblay reported on the status of the Coalition’s Blessing Box Project. Heather presented a map of several Little Libraries in Clay Center and discussed the possibility of transforming them into Blessing Boxes to hold non-perishable food at designated times. The Coalition unanimously voted to continue researching and developing a plan of action for the projects