Partners After School Programs Complete Summer, Gear Up for Fall

Partners After School (PAS) at Oakland and Accident recently completed their summer programs, and are gearing up for the school year.

The summer programs were made possible through a donation from GCC Technologies, LLC, as well as funding from Garrett County Local Management Board (LMB), and supported by Grant Number AD752SRA from the Maryland Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

Each of the summer programs provided 7 days of team-building, physical activity, healthy eating, fun-filled fields trips, and life skills education for their participants. Accident’s program included 17 participants, and Oakland’s had 25 participants.

Both programs allowed participants to enjoy fishing, swimming at Dans Mountain State Park, hiking, sports and recreation, Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo, as well as other activities individualized for each program. Multiple lessons were provided on Promoting Health Among Teen’s Stop, Think, Act refusal skills strategy for healthy decision making.

Healthy lunches were provided by the Garrett County Board of Education Summer Food Service Program and included an entrée, milk, fruit, vegetables, and grains with every meal.

Currently, after school programs for the school year are gearing up to start in October. PAS @ Oakland will begin October 1^st, and will serve 3^rd through 8^th graders from Yough Glades and Broad Ford elementary, and Southern Middle schools on Monday through Thursday evening at Southern Middle School. Accident’s program will begin October 17^th and meet on Thursday afternoons only. Grantsville’s program, new to GCHD’s after school outreach, will begin October 7^th and meet on Monday through Wednesday afternoons. Friendsville’s program will be added in the spring.

Partners After School programming is provided by the Garrett County Health Department (GCHD) through the Health Education and Outreach division and funding through the Governor’s Office for Children. For more information call the health department at 301-334-7730 or 301-895-3111. No person shall be denied service in relation to race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or genetic information.

Cutline: Pictured above are staff from the Garrett County Health Department’s Partners After School programs receiving a donation from the GCC Technologies Facilities Manager DeAnna Murphy. From left are Kristen Walker and Gillian Shreve, Sarah Humberson, Murphy, James Michaels, and Juliet Sanders.

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department

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