NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Erica Doherty is the Family Support Specialist Liaison with Hutchinson USD 308.
"Day to day is very different," Doherty said. "If it's food insecurity and finding food for a family for one day and then the next day, it's navigating insurance. It's really very different. It's tailored individually to each family that I'm working with."
She said she has been able to assist a lot of families in the pilot program that is designed to help before family situations get bad enough to need DCF referral.
"Last year, I served a total of 462 kids for the school year," Doherty said. "This year, it's been, we're probably at like 100 total. It's been about 40 each month."
If you know a USD 308 family that is struggling, contact your neighborhood school.
"The school can always get in contact with me," Doherty said. "They can always email me. There's the [email protected] email address. From there, we'll get my phone numbers. Then, we can always call, text, email, whatever works best for that individual family."
The hope is to continue to compile positive data so that the program can eventually be statewide.
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