To combat the rising incidences of teen substance abuse, Medford has embraced a progressive approach by integrating the Teen Intervene program into six local schools. In collaboration with OnTrack Rogue Valley, the Medford School District, and Jackson County Health & Human Services, the city is diverting funds from a National Opioids Settlement to support adolescent health and recovery. According to the City of Medford, the program has already aided 56 students since its launch in late March.
Specifically targeting the 12 to 19 age group, Teen Intervene replaces traditional suspensions with in-school interventions, screening teens, and providing vital resources. The initiative has signed a three-year funding agreement involving $40,000 annually for OnTrack to supply program counselors and $9,000 per year for the Medford School District, aiming to provide the Teen Intervene curriculum with $43,000 to Jackson County Health & Human Services. The initiative also echoes a broader objective from the Medford City Council to partner regionally in preemptive services for youth.
School-based certified counselors focus on fostering coping skills, setting achievable goals, and behavior modification to either reduce or eradicate substance use. Teens can access two to six free sessions encompassing parental education and guidance, "most of which are held at school," as stated in the City of Medford's announcement. Additional treatment services can be linked through OnTrack, ensuring a comprehensive support system when necessary.
There's a multifaceted funding structure in place to ensure the continuity and implementation of the Teen Intervene program. OnTrack's role, having two program counselors supported with $40,000 yearly, is instrumental in providing these services. At the same time, the Medford School District gets bolstered with $9,000 annually to enact in-school interventions, and Jackson County Health & Human Services has been granted $43,000 for curriculum procurement, thereby solidifying the educational backbone of the program's efforts to halt the cycle of addiction among the youth of Medford.
