The Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council unanimously voted to award Texas A&M University Health Science Center a grant of up to $25 million to provide tailored opioid prevention services and implement a comprehensive educational program for Texas schoolchildren, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar recently announced.
“As a member of the council, we recognized the importance of taking action to ensure Texans receive the necessary support they deserve,” said Dr. Carrie de Moor, who was appointed to the council by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. “This grant helps address the critical need to equip Texas school children and families with the skills and knowledge required to make informed choices and respond effectively in crisis. I want to thank all applicants for their hard work and encourage them to continue to apply for future grants.”
The grant agreement, once finalized by both parties, covers the costs of providing statewide opioid prevention programming to Texas students in kindergarten through 12th grade, including student education, upstream interventions, and community engagement and public awareness activities. The goal of the grant is to enhance opioid prevention efforts in Texas schools. The grant agreement provides for an initial three-year term with an optional renewal. Program services must meet the fentanyl education requirements of House Bill 3908, 88th Legislature, Regular Session, also known as Tucker’s Law, and be aligned with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for school health programs so that they may be offered in Texas public schools.
