A $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Henderson County to the Pavillon Treatment Center will provide much needed financial assistance the children’s outreach, addiction education and prevention program offered.

The program targets at-risk youth, ages K – 12 and is implemented through a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County.

The program provides age-appropriate education on addiction, values clarification and healthy coping and communication skills to all children participating in the after-school program.

And while the children’s program is offered by Pavillon in six Western North Carolina counties, including Polk County, these specific grant funds will be used exclusively to deploy the program through the Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County.

“This grant, for which we are most grateful, will help us to offset some of the operating expenses related to development and delivery of this very important program,” said Anne Vance, CEO for Pavillon.

The program educates children about substance abuse and teaches them how to make healthy choices while identifying a safe support system should they or someone they love have a substance abuse problem.

It focuses on helping children to:

• Understand alcoholism and addiction as a disease

• Identify comfortable and uncomfortable feelings

• Identify at least three positive ways to deal with uncomfortable feelings

• Identify at least three positive people/activities that can help them make healthy choices

• Name at least two places where they can go for support if their parents have substance abuse issues.

The Children’s Program at Pavillon is looking for volunteers for the summer. For information, contact Rachael Haynes-Wood, program director at 694-2300, ext. 225.