By Rise Up Reno Prevention Network
RENO COUNTY, Kan. — Rise Up Reno Prevention Network works to promote healthy youth behaviors through mentoring, substance use prevention, suicide prevention, strengthening families, and youth leadership. As a primary prevention agency, the main objective is to prevent youth from ever starting underage drinking or drug use.
Rise Up Reno is proud to work with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, The Kansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, and the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children. Members of Reno County will be working together on an alliance to enhance collaborative efforts on behalf of children and families. The protocol will allow a larger solution to prevent and address child abuse and neglect.
In Kansas, an estimated 140,860 children live in environments where their parent or caregiver has a substance use disorder (SUD), and an estimated 5,155 Kansas infants are born exposed to substances yearly.
“We know that drug-endangered children are more likely to develop chronic diseases in their lifetime, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity,” Secretary Janet Stanek said. “They are also more likely to develop substance use disorder, have financial difficulties, and employment challenges.”
Governor Kelly announced that KDHE would receive nearly $3 million from the U.S. Department of Justice to better identify and support children exposed to drugs, increase public safety, and reduce overdose death. Rise Up Reno Prevention Network is accepting $65,000 per year for two years. These efforts are part of KDHE’s All Hands on DECK project, which kicked off October 4.
“The All Hands on DECK funding is an investment in Kansas children and a lifeline for family members with substance use disorder,” said Joan Duwve, M.D., KDHE State Health Officer.