CHAMBERSBURG – Maria A. Jackson, a Wilson College grad, has been hired as the new opioid education and prevention coordinator to work with Franklin County schools.
Franklin County Commissioners created her position when they adopted a new program aimed at educating school children across the county about the dangers of opioid and other drug, alcohol and tobacco use. Jackson will work under Karen Johnston, director of the Healthy Communities Partnership.
Johnston noted, “When I first met Maria I was impressed by her positive attitude and most importantly her passion for helping others. She had just graduated from Wilson College and understood the needs of our local youth and communities. She will be amazing in this position.”
The opioid education and prevention coordinator will strengthen the county’s response to opioid and other drug use by expanding prevention and education efforts across the county’s public and private schools, county officials said. This position is in partnership with Healthy Community Partnership and will be supported by opioid settlement funding.
The cost for the new program is $186,000 over a 2- to 3-year time frame.
Jackson is originally from Philadelphia and said she is “a proud graduate of Wilson College, where I earned my degree in healthcare and medical humanities.”
Before taking the new position, she was a health promotion specialist with Healthy Communities Partnership, bringing both clinical experience and a strong focus on community health to her work.
“My healthcare journey began as a trauma technician at Johns Hopkins Suburban Hospital, and I went on to work in Emergency Departments at WellSpan Health and Thomas Jefferson Hospital,” Jackson said. “These high-pressure environments gave me invaluable insight into urgent patient care. I also had the opportunity to deepen my understanding of global and local health challenges through an internship with the International Rescue Committee in Baltimore.”
Jackson earned the Suzanne Blumenthal Prize and the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation Scholarship, recognitions that reflected upon her commitment to healthcare equity and advancement.
Jackson said, “Now based in Chambersburg, I feel a strong calling to connect with the student population. I believe young people have incredible potential to shape the future of public health. My goal is to bridge the gap between clinical practice and community outreach – empowering students to recognize their voice, health and education as powerful tools for meaningful, lasting change.”
