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OUR HISTORY

2005

A grassroots effort to address underage substance abuse was started by Police Chief, Bill Robinson, and Mayor Sharon Brown. A passionate small group representing several sectors of the community began meeting to discuss needs and interventions.

2006

Clay Counts begins - The group chose "Clay Counts" as a name to emphasize the focus of the coalition, which was to ensure the health and wellness of ALL Clay County citizens. The group was organized as a branch of the Clay County Health Department and promoted through a series of Town Hall Meetings.

2007

Through the support of the Kansas SPF_SIG grant, the strategic prevention framework was utilized to specifically address the problem of underage drinking.

2007-2011

Activities to address underage drinking were in full swing with the hiring of two Project SUCCESS counselors who championed the initiatives. Some activities implemented during this time included:

  • Saturation Patrol

  • Sticker Shock Campaign

  • Every 15 Minutes

  • Not In My House Campaign

  • Drug Testing in the schools

  • Student groups focusing on new students, children of alcoholics, and leadership.

  • Car Crash Simulation

  • Positive Addictions Month

  • Awareness Activities in the Schools

2015

Suicide Prevention Activities Programs Grant provided support to address the needs of students regarding depression and suicide. As a result of this funding, the team developed policies and suicide protocol as well as various student interventions.

2018

USD 379 added the position of a School, Community, and Family Connections Counselor to develop a community-wide, comprehensive approach to addressing the health and wellness of our youth.

2019

Clay Counts was awarded a planning grant through the Kansas Prevention Collaborative to address underage alcohol use and suicide prevention through research-based interventions over the next three years.

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Clay Counts earned a one-year, Opioid Data to Action (OD2A) grant to utilize a trauma-informed approach to addressing the opioid crisis in our community. This funding allowed us to provide a community resource fair, bring in a presenter to talk to students and community members about the stigma of depression, recruit and train a speakers bureau to visit with various groups in the community about trauma, and begin the implementation phase for the IRIS network.

2020

Clay Counts was awarded a second OD2A grant to support a partnership with Riley County Corrections to support the new Drug Court community initiative and to further advance the implementation  of the IRIS network.

2022

In response to multiple community suicides, Clay Counts hosted the first "Courageous Conversations" event, bringing in speakers and organizations to tackle tough topics. Courageous Conversations events have since become a recurring event in Clay Center.

2023

USD 379 begins the TeamMates mentoring program with the help of Clay Counts funding. The district soon becomes one of the largest programs in the state, with 70+ students being paired with a mentor.

2024

Clay Counts Community Mobilizer Lori Martin received the Sheryl Carlson Outstanding Leadership award for the State of Kansas and was named outstanding sponsor at the State YLink Conference.

2025

Clay Center Community High School, Clay Center Community Middle School, and Wakefield High School all have a Youth Leaders in Kansas (YLinK) chapter, sponsored by Clay Counts.

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Two graduating CCCHS YLinK seniors (Isabelle Blackwood and Raegann McDonald served on the CADCA National Youth Advisory Board.

2026

Clay Counts currently has more than $400,000 in grants:

  • $125,000 - CDC Drug Free Communities Grant (annually for 10 years)

  • $125,000 - Community In Kind Match for DFC

  • $100,000 - KDHE Drug Endangered Children Grant

  • $45,000 - KDADS Kansas Suicide Prevention Grant

  • $12,000 - KDADS Youth Leaders in Kansas Grant

  • $3,500 - Clay Center Community Improvement Foundation Grant

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