Families

We care about our students and community.

The misuse and abuse of opioids and other drugs, including prescription medication, is a concern across the nation; recently, there has been a rise in the prevalence of synthetic drug use, such as fentanyl, across the United States.

According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH):

• Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in California and the United States.

• Illegally manufactured fentanyl can be added to other drugs to make them cheaper, more powerful, and more addictive. Illegal fentanyl has been found in many drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, counterfeit pills, and cocaine. Fentanyl mixed with any drug increases the likelihood of a fatal overdose.

• Fentanyl-laced drugs are extremely dangerous. It is nearly impossible to tell if drugs have been laced with fentanyl without the use of fentanyl test strips because fentanyl cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted.

• Test strips are inexpensive, typically give results within 5 minutes, and can be the difference between life or death. Even if the test is negative, caution should be taken as test strips might not detect other fentanyl-like drugs, like carfentanil.

• The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) found that 2 out of every 5 counterfeit pills with fentanyl contains a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.

• The only safe medications are ones prescribed by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.

• If you find any pills, do not touch them. Call local law enforcement for removal or take appropriate precautions to dispose of them.

If you think someone you know may be using fentanyl or another drug, please take note of the signs of an opioid overdose:

• Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”

• Falling asleep or losing consciousness

• Slow, weak, or no breathing

• Choking or gurgling sounds

• Limp body

• Cold, clammy and/or discolored skin

Call 911 immediately if you believe someone is overdosing.

If you are concerned someone in your life is at-risk of an overdose, carry the overdose reversal medication naloxone (“Narcan”).

Narcan is a nasal spray and the brand-name of naloxone, a life-saving medication used to reverse an opioid overdose.

Because of the CDPH’s statewide Naloxone standing order, Narcan can be given out. Public Health staff will provide individuals one box of Narcan and give a brief training for how to respond to an opioid overdose.

In an effort to prevent opioid overdose deaths, Kern County Public Health is distributing Narcan to Kern County residents at no cost. BCSD schools currently stock Narcan in case of an emergency.

Narcan is available at:
Kern County Public Health Department
1800 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Bakersfield

• Walk-ins accepted

• Training time: 10–15 minutes

• One box provided (contains two doses) plus educational materials

• Available Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Narcan can also be obtained at local Kern County Library branches and locations listed at:
https://drugfreekern.org/narcan-information/

We care about our students and community.

If you have any questions or need assistance with how to discuss this information with your child, you can call your child’s School Nurse or the School Health and Wellness Department.

Parents and guardians should:

• Be prepared and informed about fentanyl, the fentanyl crisis, and substance use before starting the conversation.

• Use honest language that emphasizes family values and concerns around drug use.

• Have open conversations that consider the child’s understanding and experiences rather than lecturing or using scare tactics.

• Initiate age-appropriate conversations about substance use.

• KidsHealth - Talking to Your Kids About Drugs

• SAMHSA - Talking with Your Teen About Opioids

• Talking to Your Kids About Fentanyl

• Drug Free Kern

• Kern County Library Narcan Information 

• Kern County Public Health Narcan Information

• Kern County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services

• One Pill Can Kill

• California Department of Public Health - Opioids

• California Department of Public Health - Fentanyl

• California Department of Public Health - Naloxone

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Why You Should Talk With Your Child About Alcohol and Other Drugs

• Facts Fight Fentanyl

The McKinney-Vento Act defines “homeless children and youths” as children and youth who lack fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence; including children and youth who are:

• Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reasons; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals
• Living at a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above;
• Unaccompanied youth, including any youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian, such as runaways, or youth denied housing by their families.

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, homeless children and youth have the right to:

• Receive a free, appropriate public education.
• Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
• Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.
• Enroll in the local school; or continue attending the school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), according to student’s best interest.

*If the school district believes that the school selected is not in the student’s best interest, the district must provide the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth with a written explanation of its position and inform the parent, guardian, or youth of the right to appeal its decision.

• Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested.
• Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to each student’s needs.
• Receive free lunches for the duration of the school year.
• Receive equal access to education and have school fees waived.

Homeless liaisons support students experiencing homelessness by helping ensure immediate enrollment and access to educational services and resources.

If you believe your child may be eligible for McKinney-Vento services, please contact a local liaison to learn more about available supports. Services may also be available for preschool-age children.

• Grow Academy Shafter:
  Marixza Rodriguez — m.rodriguez@growpublicschools.org

• Grow Academy Arvin:
  Blanca Rodriguez — blrodriguez@growpublicschools.org

You may also use this link to find the district or site liaison in your area.

National Center for Homeless Education Brochure (English)

National Center for Homeless Education Brochure (Spanish)

Right to Enroll Poster (English)

Right to Enroll Poster (Spanish)

Arvin Resource Center
The Arvin Family Resource Center supports Arvin families by partnering with schools and community organizations to provide comprehensive assistance, referrals, and programs that address academic, social, and basic needs impacting student success.
Phone Number: 661-854-6565
Address: 300 Franklin Street,  Arvin, CA 93203

Shafter Resource Center
The Shafter Family Resource Center supports the whole child and whole community by partnering with local organizations to connect families to essential services such as food, health care, housing, legal assistance, and parent education.
Phone Number: 661-746-8690
Address: 340 South Valley Avenue, Shafter, CA 93263

211
2-1-1 Kern is a free, 24/7 service that connects residents to comprehensive information and referrals for health, social, and human services in the community.
Text or call: 211
Web Address: www.211.org
Physical Address: 300 19th Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301