Monday Message: 5/29/2023
May 29, 2023
The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District has provided a central Family Resource Center (FRC) for over five years, with the goal of supporting McKinney-Vento and low-income families by connecting them with community services. A bilingual Counselor on Special Assignment (COSA) offers counseling support to homeless families. The bilingual FRC staff assists students and parents with various items like backpacks, school supplies, hygiene products, food, clothing, and more. Parents can visit the FRC for support. The FRC also houses the Homeless Liaison's office for direct access to resources. Monthly food distributions and a clinic for students with MediCal are available. In addition, the FRC courtyard features adult ESL classes taught by North Orange County Community College District, medical services for students and parents offered by St. Jude Neighborhood Clinic, and the Topaz State Sponsored Preschool for community three and four-year-olds. PYLUSD and the staff of the Family Resource Center are dedicated to providing impactful and essential services to our most vulnerable students and families and are proud of the resiliency and academic achievement we continue to foster to ensure the success and support for all of our students.
Links
PYLUSD Homeless Assistance Website
In recognition of June 2023 as National Safety Month, the district is educating our school community on the dangers of fentanyl and planning future student, employee, and parent trainings. Beginning in fall 2023, all high school students will be provided with a fentanyl awareness education course/assembly conducted by local law enforcement professionals.
Other Ways PYLUSD is Addressing This Problem
Over recent years, the district has implemented several initiatives, programs, and practices to raise awareness and communicate the dangers of drugs and illegal substances to both students and families. This includes:
- Annual district-wide participation in Red Ribbon Week;
- Student education on substance abuse in high school health classes and other curricula;
- Parent education on drug trends and the dangers of fentanyl through the PYLUSD Parent University Program;
- Drug detection canines visit high school sites on a regular basis to determine if drugs or illegal substances are present;
- Over 250 staff members have been trained to administer Naloxone HCL (NARCAN®), a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an overdose from opioids;
- Doses of NARCAN® are on hand at all PYLUSD campuses; and
- Student education specific to the dangers of fentanyl is currently being planned for this Fall at secondary schools in partnership with local law enforcement.
What is Fentanyl?
The dangerous drug fentanyl is devastating families across the nation and we want you to be informed and partner with us to create awareness in the community. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid typically used to treat patients with chronic severe pain or severe pain following surgery. Under the supervision of a licensed medical professional, fentanyl has legitimate medical use. Fentanyl is often pressed into counterfeit pills made to look like legitimate prescription opioids such as oxycodone or even anxiety medications like Xanax. Because it is cheap to produce, it is also showing up in other street drugs like cocaine, heroin, and MDMA. Drug dealers are substituting or mixing in fentanyl because it is more potent, addictive, and cheaper.
According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl is roughly 50 times stronger than heroin and about 100 times more powerful than morphine. Even one pill can have fatal consequences, and many fentanyl victims do not know they are taking the drug. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is especially advising the public of an alarming trend of colorful fentanyl, referred to as “rainbow fentanyl,” which is available across the United States. Drug traffickers have made these pills look like candy or colored sidewalk chalk that comes in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes to appeal to kids and young adults.
Statistics About Fentanyl Among Youth
According to the California Department of Public Health:
- Emergency department visits related to non-fatal opioid overdoses in California's youth ages 10-19 years more than tripled from 2018 (379 total) to 2020 (1,222 total).
- Opioid-related overdose deaths in California's youth ages 10-19 years increased from 2018 (54 total) to 2020 (274 total), marking a 407 percent increase over two years, largely driven by fentanyl.
- Fentanyl-related overdose deaths in California's youth ages 10-19 years increased from 2018 (36 total) to 2020 (261 total), a 625 percent increase.
In closing, the well-being of our students, staff, and families is our top priority. On behalf of the Board of Education, we thank you for your partnership in helping to protect and educate our youth.
We are committed to being a dynamic and supportive learning community that prepares each and every student for success now and in the future.