An organization that serves Westfield Washington Schools students is one of nine Hamilton County groups awarded funds from HOPE for Hamilton County — previously known as the opioid settlement — as part of an initiative to make strategic investments in local organizations dedicated to prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction services.
Student Impact was founded in 1999. Students from Westfield intermediate, middle and high schools visit the building — a renovated farmhouse at 536 N. Union St. — after school Monday through Thursday. Students walk to the center — known as “The Rock” — where they have after-school snacks and engage in activities from arts and crafts to simply playing games and hanging out in a safe and supervised environment.
Student Impact Executive Director Brittany Delph said youth who attend Student Impact generally fall into three categories:
- Students experiencing trauma — Traumas may include food insecurity, need for energy assistance, divorce, abuse, or trauma within the family.
- Students experiencing isolation — Student Impact assists students with making connections and building friendships to combat isolation.
- Students looking for new opportunities — Some students opt-in to Student Impact because they are looking to make a difference in their communities by way of volunteering, character development and participating in activities with their peers.
“Being a very influential and affluent county, that does not dictate the quality of life that a lot of these kids do have in regards to being connected with a community of friends,” Delph said. “Are they experiencing isolation and loneliness? That’s something that we see a consistency with our kids. One of the things that we see often here, which is very surprising, is families that might not necessarily be struggling with the ability to get food, but kids that are going home to empty households, whether that is a big mansion or tiny home, parents are working long hours, they are not there when they get home.”…