West Virginia First Foundation Awards $17 Million in Opioid Recovery Grants
SUTTON — The West Virginia First Foundation celebrated the recipients of its Initial Opportunity Grant program on Tuesday, distributing a significant $17 million to combat the state’s substance use crisis. The grants, awarded to 94 projects across six regions, aim to utilize opioid settlement funds effectively. Foundation Executive Director Jonathan Board and Chairman Matthew Harvey emphasized the importance of these initiatives in fostering community-driven solutions.
Initiated in September, the program attracted over 174 applications, highlighting the pressing need for innovative strategies to address substance use disorder. The funding is allocated across four key areas: drug diversion, youth prevention, child advocacy, and transitional housing.
The event brought together various stakeholders, including state officials and law enforcement, who expressed optimism about the collaborative efforts to reduce substance abuse. Attorney General J.B. McCuskey underscored the potential impact of this funding, while Dr. Karen Scott of the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts noted the need for sustained prevention despite recent declines in overdose rates.
As West Virginia grapples with the highest drug overdose death rate nationwide, the foundation’s efforts mark a crucial step toward lasting change in the state’s public health landscape.
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