Youth Services wins $5,000 grant for Sidekicks program; continues STEM partnerships and opioid prevention work

Joanne Moriarty reported that Suffield Youth Services received a $5,000 grant from the Suffield Greater Together Foundation to fund the Sidekicks Teen Helping Seniors program for another year. Applications from seniors and teens continue at a steady pace, Moriarty said.

She described a continuing STEM partnership with the ACES High Robotics group to offer programs at the Youth Center and operational changes intended to make attendance easier, including school-bus transportation from both the middle and high schools and the elimination of pre-registration in favor of annual registration. Moriarty also said Youth Services collaborated with the Governor’s Prevention Partnership on an opioid prevention campaign funded with Suffield’s Opioid Settlement Funds; Phase 1 distributed Deterra medication pouches and Phase 2 includes customized medication lock bags that will be available at Suffield on the Green.

The Commission thanked volunteers and collaborators and agreed to consider restarting a 'Welcome to Suffield' packet program if volunteers can be found; the item will be returned to the November agenda for further discussion.