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Rebecca King, Red Clay School
District, DE
Smart Moves, Smart Choices:
Meeting a Critical Community Need
Both professionally and personally, School Nurse Rebecca King of Delaware’s Red Clay School District was all too aware of the tragic impacts of drug addiction in the community. A family member had become addicted in the aftermath of a violent attack, and she saw rapidly growing substance abuse among students – as well as local evidence of a heroin epidemic.
When Rebecca and four other district School Nurses completed the Johnson & Johnson School Health Leadership program in 2012, their focus was on implementing a high-impact substance abuse prevention and education program. They wanted to educate both students and the community, and help families get information and resources to support loved ones recovering from addiction.
They chose to adopt the nationally recognized Smart Moves, Smart Choices curriculum. They also partnered with a local program, atTAcK Addiction, launched by a family who lost their son to a drug overdose. The atTAcK Addiction program was already collaborating with social service agencies, the department of health, and the Governor – helping Rebecca’s team rapidly develop vital partnerships. The team not only implemented the curriculum effectively, but also incorporated an elementary school component (Start Smart).
As a result of their partnership and coalition building, Rebecca and the entire aTtAcK Addiction team were recognized in 2014 with a Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award for their work in Community as Coalition. Their program was also awarded $50,000 – now being used to train all health teachers and School Nurses in all 19 school districts across Delaware in using the curriculum.
Rebecca finds that the partnerships and relationships she has developed have leant enormous strength to her program efforts – and increased recognition for the value of School Nurses. State officials have sought input from her and other School Nurses – and attend to them as the voice of the people. She also frequently gets calls from teachers and community members seeking advice or help.