The mission of Frederick County Health Department’s Kids Like Us Campaign

Post date: Aug 09, 2018 12:36:37 PM

During their formative years, children have the right to live in an environment that prioritizes their health and safety. Growing up in a home where a parent or a loved one is battling substance abuse can affect a child's development in many ways. Aside from affecting their physical and mental well-being, these children are also prone to different kinds of abuse.

Image source: Drugfacts.ca

To help those who are having a hard time at home because of a loved one's substance abuse, the Kids Like Us campaign of the Frederick County Health Department's Behavioral Services Division can provide these young ones with support as they cope with substance abuse in their families. In cooperation with the Frederick County Public School Counselors, the program offers confidential counseling for children who might be suffering from a loved one's addiction. By talking with trained counselors and mental health professionals, the goal is to help these kids openly communicate their thoughts and feelings regarding their daily experiences at home, in school, and in other places.

Aside from protecting and counseling the children of individuals battling substance abuse, the campaign also helps in preventing drug abuse in school and community settings. By identifying the children who are living in these environments, the authorities will be able to provide help and support even to the adults who are struggling.

The Kids Like Us campaign has been running in Frederick, Maryland, for 30 years. In 2017, the movement received the National Exemplary Awards for Innovative Substance Abuse Prevention Programs, Practices, and Policies on behalf of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, Inc. The continued success of the campaign is because of the whole community's involvement.

Image source: Psychologytoday.com

Captain Martin Sanders, Ph.D., has more than a decade of service in the field of epidemiology and occupational safety and health, with extensive experience in biological defense activities and infectious disease outbreak investigation. Visit this page for similar reads.