While all ages, all races, all incomes, and all education levels are being fully impacted by the opioid crisis on the Mid-Shore, perhaps the most pain caused by this epidemic are on its kids. Whether it be the actual death of a parent of a drug overdose, the fear that a living parent may be at risk of dying,  or the ongoing stress of living in a home where a relative is using drugs, it is the children who may suffer the most. And nowhere is that felt more than in a small county school district like Caroline County.

Dr. Patricia Saelens, who has been with the Caroline School District for close to three decades, thought she had seen the worst when she noticed the devastation on students caused by alcohol abuse. That was also true when cocaine invaded the county a few years later but never before has Dr. Saelens faced something as horrific as this current wave of fentanyl-laced drugs and other opioids.

The Spy talked recently to the superintendent on the drug crisis impact on Caroline County schools and how educators play a pivotal role in helping kids and their families, while also joining forces with community partners on prevention and awareness.

This video is approximately four minutes in length. For more information about Caroline County Public Schools please go here.

Tonier “Neen” Cain lived for 20 years on the streets filled with hunger, brutality and substance abuse. Incarcerated and pregnant in 2004, someone finally took the time to ask: “what happened to you?” instead of “what’s wrong with you?”

On September 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Easton High School Auditorium, Talbot County Department of Social Services is sponsoring an event, “Creating a Conversation about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Building Resiliency,” featuring speaker, Tonier “Neen” Cain-Muldrow, a trauma survivor and internationally-recognized Trauma Informed Care Expert.

The event, which will be held in collaboration with the Talbot County Health Department, Talbot County Public Schools, and Talbot Goes Purple, will educate the public about the impact of trauma on the brain and building resilience. The evening will include the airing of the award-winning film, “Healing Neen,” which describes the devastating impact of childhood abuse and Ms. Cain-Muldrow’s emergence from drug addiction, incarceration and homelessness. The evening will also feature remarks from Cain-Muldrow and an ACE master trainer who will discuss the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on the brain and the factors that build resilience.

Tonier Cain-Muldrow’s work has focused on heightening awareness of the characteristics and effects of trauma and improving the performance of service providers, businesses, government agencies and others who interact with trauma victims and survivors.

According to Linda Webb, director of Talbot County Department of Social Services, “We think this program will speak to every age group in every socio-economic level in our community. This topic should resonate not only with human service providers, but with those in business, as well, as we explore the connection between investing in early childhood and lifelong outcomes that impact the health of Talbot County’s workforce.

We hope this film, ‘Healing Neen,’ will be the first in a series of community education events that will begin a conversation about how untreated trauma affects individuals and society at-large, including mental health problems, addiction, homelessness and incarceration, as well as how we can mitigate Adverse Childhood Experiences so children can grow into healthy, resilient and productive members of our community. The event is free to the public. The first 200 participants will also receive a copy of the book, “Healing Neen.” For further information, call 410-770-5750.