City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 8, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: DR. DAVID C. ROSE, DIRECTOR, ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth to Educate Youth about the Evolving Dangers of Fentanyl.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a grant application to the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth to educate the youth in the city on the dangers of fentanyl.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Retroactively approve the submission of a grant application to the National Association of County and City Health Officials for $4,000; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) recognized the serious harm that fentanyl posed to youth across the Commonwealth due to teachers lacking resources to inform the youth of these dangers. In response to this growing need for educating youth, VFHY developed the Dangers of Fentanyl Lesson (Lesson), a one-hour lesson designed for high school students and a 30-minute lesson tailored for middle school students to educate the youth on the evolving dangers of fentanyl. To encourage the implementation of the Lesson, VFHY is providing up to thirty-five (35) competitive $4,000 Activation Grants in 2026. Non-profits, school systems, governmental organizations, and charitable organizations operating in Virginia are eligible to apply. The online application was due Friday, December 5, 2025.
DISCUSSION: Fentanyl use continues to be a growing concern in the community. From 2020-2024, Alexandria recorded 79 opioid overdose emergency department visits among youth under age 19, with Black and Latino youth disproportionately impacted. While 2% of ACPS 8th, 10th, and 12th graders report current prescription misuse, 84% of students perceive prescription drug misuse as a risk to their health. Giving youth the resources they need to make informed decisions on the health risks of fentanyl will help decrease this growing problem in the community. Educational resources are the key to prevention in informed decision making. If funded, the Alexandria Health Department will utilize these funds to train staff members in the utilization of the Lesson. The staff will administer the Lesson to at least 200 willing students between middle and high school students in school and at community events in groups of 25 or fewer. Students will be tested before and after to assess the information they learned. Students will also be assessed if the Lesson helped them make an informed decision to avoid fentanyl use.
FISCAL IMPACT: This grant, if awarded, will provide $4,000 to support community engagement, and educational resources. There is no required match from the City.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1- VFHY 2026 Dangers of Fentanyl Grant Application
Attachment 2- VFHY 2026 Dangers of Fentanyl Grant Overview
STAFF:
Zayda Morales, Health and Community Education Specialist, Alexandria Health Department
Emma Beall, Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria, Alexandria Health Department
Kirstin Sievers, Opioid Coordinator, Alexandria Health Department
Felicia Bendolph-Simmons, Nurse Manager, Alexandria Health Department
David C. Rose, Director, Alexandria Health Department
Kieu Ngyuen, Business Manager, Alexandria Health Department