United Way joins fight against opioid abuse
Community CORE receives the largest one-time grant in organization's history
For immediate release
Thursday May 11, 2017
United Way is joining the fight against Logan County's opioid epidemic in a big way. The organization announced today that a $26,150 grant is being awarded to the Community Coalition for Opiate Relief Efforts (CORE). It's the largest one-time grant ever awarded by United Way of Logan County.
The money will be used to help CORE take action on five strategies coalition members have developed to combat the issue. There were 49 documented overdose cases in Logan County between January and March of this year, after 46 occurred in all of 2016. 10 of the 49 overdoses resulted in death.
"We hear so many of the negative things about the overdoses, but there are so many stories to share about treatment and success that this money is going to put into place to give people hope again," said Steve Marshall, Kroger Pharmacist and Co-Chair of CORE.
"There are people who will make recovery for whom we can turn things around," added Tammy Nicholl, Director of System Services for the Mental Health Drug & Alcohol Board of Logan and Champaign Counties and Co-Chair of CORE.
Since 2014, CORE has brought together community leaders representing the medical field, treatment centers and counseling, law enforcement, court systems, schools, churches, and concerned citizens to develop a multi-faceted approach to address the opiate issue.
United Way's grant will result in the creation of a local response team that will provide outreach to overdose victims and their families. Approximately one week after a nonfatal overdose, a team comprised of a law enforcement officer, case worker, and a recovering addict will visit the home of the victim to give information about available resources and support to the opioid user and other family members. The approach is mirrored on successful programs conducted in other communities in which 70 percent of overdose victims enter into treatment programs after receiving follow-up visits from local response teams.
A drug-free youth coalition with student representation from each local school district will be reformed and meet monthly so teens can to plan peer-led strategies and activities to prevent youth substance abuse across Logan County.
The Search Institute's 40 Developmental Asset Survey will be conducted in all 8th, 10th, and 12th grade classrooms next school year to measure data and trends on teens' drug use and behaviors.
Billboards promoting a no-tolerance message to drug dealers will be posted around the county.
And additional dollars will be spent to maintain CORE's website (www.logancountycore.com) and promotional materials.
"We realize that it's not just one area that needs addressed," said Marshall. "It takes everybody. And our strategic teams have been working hard these last several years to come up with plans. This money means we're going to be able to put things in place for the first time and really make an impact."
The grant money awarded to CORE comes from United Way's Community Impact Fund, in which $79,037 beyond the $582,263 already awarded to United Way Funded Agencies was set aside from the annual fall campaign to be used throughout the year to respond to unmet priority needs or unique partnership opportunities. This is the sixth Community Impact Fund grant awarded this year, totaling $42,383 in support. Other recipients to date include:
• Bellefontaine Police Department - $5,000 to support their Community Outreach events in local neighborhoods throughout the city and their annual event each August in Southview Park.
• Logan County Neighborhood Outreach Centers - $4,837 for two interns to provide additional summer programming at their Bellefontaine and Indian Lake drop-in locations.
• Dwell at the Bell - $3,000 to assist with start-up costs for a new after-school and weekend hangout inside Union Station.
• Logan County Health District - $1,800 to provide sleep sacks, diapers, and wipes for staff nurses to take with them when they administer the Newborn Visit program among families who have just had a child.
• Summer Autism Academy - $1,596 to provide an enhanced activity schedule for participants this summer.
It’s the mission of United Way of Logan County to facilitate successful agency partnerships that enable a safe, healthy, and caring community. More than just a fundraiser, United Way has been a valued community partner since it was established locally in 1954, collaborating with businesses, non-profits, government, and civic organizations to help meet the social service needs of the community.
United Way of Logan County, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization and is registered with the BBB of Central Ohio. We participate in the BBB Accredited Charity Seal program, which indicates that we meet all 20 of the Standards of Charity Accountability and are noted as an Accredited Charity. The 20 Standards evaluate a charity’s financial accountability, governance and oversight, effectiveness measures, and fundraising and informational materials.
For more information, call us at (937) 592-2886.
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CAPTION: The Community Coalition for Opiate Relief Efforts (CORE) received a $26,150 presentation check from United Way of Logan County volunteers at the CORE Leadership Team meeting Thursday at Union Station in Bellefontaine. The money was awarded from United Way's Community Impact Fund to support CORE's new five-strategy approach to fight the local drug epidemic.