Milton Public Schools receive $4,000 in community health grants from Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton

Grants to help support programs that address students’ behavioral health needs

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton (BID-Milton) recently awarded the Milton Public Schools two grants totaling $4,000 to help support programs that address students’ behavioral health needs.

BID-Milton awarded a $2,000 grant to Milton High School to support the presentation of Drug Story Theatre to ninth and tenth grade students during the 2018 – 2019 school year. According to Noel Vigue, director of physical and health education for the Milton Public Schools, Drug Story Theatre is an evidence-based substance use treatment and prevention presentation whose cast members are young adults in recovery. The interactive performance focuses on how the early use of drugs, including marijuana, can affect the brains of teenagers and ultimately lead to addiction.

The hospital also awarded a $2,000 grant to Tucker Elementary School to help the school promote the behavioral health needs of students through a program called “Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.” The grant will help underwrite the cost of sending four teachers to a professional development program at the May Institute which will enable the school to implement the prevention program which has been advocated by the U.S Department of Education.

“Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton is committed to improving the health of our communities. This includes the emotional well-being of students,” said Rich Fernandez, president and CEO of the hospital. “These community health grants will provide additional resources to the Milton schools to help ensure students have access to high-quality behavioral health programs that are effective and considered best practices.”

Superintendent of Milton Public Schools Mary C. Gormley stated: “Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Milton is an amazing partner to over 4,000 Milton Public School students and their families and our 500 staff members. BID – Milton has supported every aspect of our school district from enhancing direct supports for our students to professional development for our staff to last year’s and this coming year’s PARENT Speaker Series.”

Added Mr. Vigue: “Community support is essential for the vitality of health education and prevention programs in the Milton Public Schools. We are grateful to have the continued support from BID-Milton. Our MPS families and students benefit from this community partnership as we are able to continue to provide them with innovative health/wellness programming like our 2017-18 PARENT Speaker Series.”

The $4,000 donation to the Milton Public Schools was through BID-Milton’s Community Benefits Program. The hospital maintains a robust program which provides healthcare services and resources for uninsured or underinsured patients, community health screenings and education as well as programs to meet public health needs. Last year, BID-Milton provided more than $230,000 in community benefits to the Town of Milton and its residents.