Document Type
Portfolio
Publication Date
Fall 2025
Abstract
Goal Statement: The goal of this social change portfolio is to help develop and promote mentoring programs for youth in Hagerstown, Maryland as preventive strategy to reduce the impact of the opioid epidemic. This initiative seeks to strengthen resilience, enhance academic performance and foster healthy decision-making among adolescents through consistent, supportive adult-youth relationships. The proposed mentoring framework to integrate culturally responsive, trauma-informed and community-based approaches address the systemic and interpersonal factors contributing to misuse in Washington County. Significant Findings: In Washington County, where Hagerstown is located, it continues to experience one of the highest opioids overdoes within Maryland which is nearly double the national average (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022). Youth in the region are disproportionately affected due to family instability, economic hardship and limited access to positive role models (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2019). Consequences of the epidemic have included increased rates of trauma exposure, declining academic performance and community disconnection. Research has demonstrated that mentoring programs such as Big Brothers Big Sisters can serve as an effective protective factor which can enhance coping skills, improving emotional well-being and reducing early initiation of substance use (Grossman & Tierney, 1998; Raposa et al., 2019). Findings have also indicated that community-based, culturally adapted mentoring models improve engagement and sustainability in these high-risk populations. Therefore, implementing a structured mentoring model in Hagerstown could mitigate intergenerational cycles of addiction and strengthen overall community resilience. Objectives/Strategies/Interventions/Next Steps: 1. Develop a Community-Based Mentoring Framework: Collaborating with local schools, recovery organizations, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters model to design a culturally responsive and evidence-based mentoring program to target at-risk adolescents. 2. Recruit and Train Culturally Diverse Mentors: Engaging volunteers, including individuals in recovery and bilingual mentors to help promote trust and reduce stigma within Latino and other underserved populations. 3. Integrating Mentoring into Schools and Youth Services: Advocating for inclusion of mentoring within school wellness programs and after-school initiatives to provide consistent, accessible support for adolescents. 4. Implement Trauma-Informed and Resilience-Focused Training: Provide professional development for mentors on topics such as trauma awareness, emotional regulation and strengths-based mentoring to build adaptive coping skills among youth. 5. Evaluate Outcomes and Sustain Programs: Partnering with the Washington County Health Department and the Maryland Department of Education to help assess progress using measurable indicators such as school attendance, self-efficacy and substance use reduction. Secure ongoing funding through public health grants and local partnerships to ensure programs sustainability.
