The Fentanyl Education, Support, and Training Awareness (FESTA) program brings evidence-based substance use prevention education to schools across Hays County. This series aims to extend the current FESTA program by bringing substance use education to school districts across the region and broadening our community’s capacity to facilitate referrals and support systems for youth and young adults.
Where FESTA Is Going Starts With Listening
Understanding a community starts with listening to the people in it. Kelly Clary, was recently featured discussing how the FESTA Program brings together research, storytelling, and lived experiences to support veterans and young people through substance use education and prevention.
As FESTA continues to grow, we’re focused on bringing community voices to the forefront and turning those experiences into meaningful research, education, and action.
Follow along to see where FESTA is going and how you can be part of the conversation.
Meet Our Speakers
Session 1: FESTA: Stronger Youth, Safer Futures
This session will provide an overview of the FESTA program, including its mission, curriculum, and benefits for school districts. The session will include testimonies from local school districts that have successfully implemented the program.
Speaker
Lori Pharis
Director of Student Support Services, Wimberly ISD
Speaker
Katrina Cleveland
MS, LPC - Mental Health Clinician
Session 2: Bridging Scholarship and Community to Grow Capacity
We will highlight FESTA’s current community partners and how community-based organizations can work with FESTA to address substance abuse and mental health in youth and young adults. We will also explore ways we can increase community capacity by facilitating regional networks and information sharing among stakeholders.
THRC Speaker
Kassandra Salinas
Prevention Outreach Coordinator
THRC Speaker
Meredith O’Neal, MA, (MBA)
Senior Program Manager - Research
Session 3: From Connection to Action and Ideas to Impact
We will explore possibilities to develop new platforms or tools to help scale these initiatives, close existing gaps, and bring key stakeholders together to grow community capacity and referral networks. This session will focus on next steps and opportunities to collaborate on future grant proposals and related initiatives in support of FESTA.
THRC Speaker
Matt Pantuso
Senior Grant Coordinator, Institute for Government Innovation
THRC Speaker
Dr. Melinda Villagran
THRC
Executive Director, Professor
IN THE NEWS
FESTA
Hays County recognized Overdose Awareness Day with a proclamation, bringing community together to raise awareness about overdose prevention and education.
Upcoming Sessions
2026 Fentanyl Education Support Training and Awareness Program Schedule
- No upcoming sessions.
Have Any Questions?
Please contact FESTA if you want to learn more about this program.