Megan Nicodemus, who serves as the Family Resource Youth Services Center coordinator at Daviess County High School, has been appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear to serve as a member of the Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy Board.
She will represent the Kentucky Family Resource Youth Services Coalition in a term expiring in September 2020.
According to the Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy bylaws, the mission of KY-ASAP is to develop a long-term strategy designed to reduce the incidence of youth and adult smoking and tobacco addictions, promote resistance to smoking, reduce the incidence of substance abuse, and promote effective treatment of substance abuse throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Nicodemus said she hopes her experience on the board will benefit residents of Kentucky and specifically the students and youth of Daviess County.
“I hope to learn more about what we can do in our community to lessen the incidence of alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse – specifically, what works and what doesn’t work, and to find funding for the programs that work,” she said. “I hope to communicate and promote the works of FRYSC so we can all work together to accomplish our goal of a drug-free Kentucky.”
Nicodemus said she believes her background and experiences will provide exceptional insights into her new role.
“I am what is known as a legacy coordinator,” she said. “My mom was one of the original Family Resource Youth Service Center coordinators in the state of Kentucky back in 1991 when the grant was first written. I made my first home visit with my Mom when I was 10 years old. As a student, I always knew that I wanted to help people; I just wasn’t sure what form that would take. During my senior year of college, I had a choice to make and I landed back where it all started: Making a home visit with my Mama. That’s when I knew. My passion is ensuring that ALL students succeed – and when I say succeed, I mean succeed at whatever it is that they dream of. Success is different for all of us: Succeed at getting the job. Succeed at getting into college. Succeed at joining the military. Succeed at LIFE. I am blessed every day to meet kids where they are and join them in that journey to success.”
Nicodemus serves as vice president of the Kentucky Family Resource Youth Services Center Coalition of Kentucky. In that role, she serves as a bridge between FRYSC and KY-ASAP. Advocating for FRYSC and our communities on a statewide stage. The Family Resource and Youth Services Coalition of Kentucky website states that FRYSCKy is a non-profit organization of professionals (including educators and human services providers) who come together to provide legislative advocacy, training and support for Family Resource and Youth Services Centers Coordinators and their staff in Kentucky.
The goal of the Coalition is to promote a network that strives to remove barriers to success in school through learning from each other, sharing resources and collaborating more effectively on behalf of children, youth and families.
Nicodemus has served as a regional representative on the FRYSCKy Coalition since 2016 and was nominated in 2018 to serve as vice president. This requires a commitment of eight years, as she will serve two-year terms as vice president, president-elect, president and immediate past president – each of which involves specific responsibilities. “I was nominated for this position because of my commitment to the Coalition and the mission of FRYSC across the state,” Nicodemus said.
