TOP PHOTO: Scott County student Kate Burress, left, spoke briefly at Tuesday’s Campbell United meeting about her experiences with Scott County’s anti-drug coalition. Vickie Jones, center, is the Youth Service-Learning Initiative (YSLI) Director for The Stand, which is Scott County’s anti-drug coalition. She was introduced on Tuesday by her son, Rotarian and Campbell County General Sessions Judge Bill Jones.

By Charlotte Underwood 

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The Campbell County Rotary Club heard from Vickie Jones with Scott County’s anti-drug coalition the Stand, which has been in Scott County for around 20 years. Jones has also been active in Campbell United, Campbell County’s re-established anti-drug coalition by speaking and teaching about youth program initiatives.

Jones is the Youth Service-Learning Initiative (YSLI) Director which is a program in the two high schools in Scott County operated through their county’s anti-drug coalition.

Jones spoke about the program in the schools and the difference in is making in their youth.

She was introduced by her son Rotarian Campbell County General Sessions Judge Bill Jones.

Through the Youth Service-Learning Initiative, she spends two days a week in Scott County High and two days a week in Oneida. 

Vickie Jones addressed the Campbell County Rotary Club on Tuesday. Jones is the Youth Service-Learning Initiative (YSLI) Director for The Stand, which is Scott County’s anti-drug coalition.

“We go into the schools, and we talk to the kids. It’s all about prevention. I teach the ACES, Adverse Childhood Experiences, to the kids. We are trying to get the kids to understand how to break the generational pattern and change their mindset. A lot of these students don’t know they have potential until they are told,” Vickie Jones said.

The program is unique in that it involves the students with how it is operated.

“We have a board of directors made up of students from both schools. The program is youth led, and adult guided. Their big job is to oversee our youth coalition and it’s working! At our first meeting, we had four kids show and at our last meeting, we had 106 students,” Vickie Jones said.

The youth coalition meets once a month at the Boys and Girls Club in Scott County. They have multiple committees on what is affecting today’s youth, such as drugs and alcohol, sexual abuse, foster care and more. According to Jones, the students “use their voice to decide what service projects they do and how to help their peers.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED- 09/11/2024-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF NANCY GREEN)

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