According to a press release from the Kentucky River Foothills Development Council, they were recently awarded a $200,000 one-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA) to implement and sustain Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery services. HRSA awarded a total of $24,000,000 to 120 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP-Planning) projects. KRFDC was one of eight Kentucky organizations to receive funding.
“This vicious epidemic has claimed too many love ones. shattered too many lives, and broken too many families,” said Vicki Jozefowicz, KRFDC Chief Administrative Officer.
The overall goal of RCORP-Planning is to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with opioid overdoses in high-risk rural communities by multi-sector consortiums.
“KRFDC has developed a strong consortium of organizations that are committed to working collectively to drive change in how our community responds to this epidemic,” said Jozefowicz. KRFDC established a consortium that includes Fahe, Madison County Health Department, Richmond Chamber of Commerce and White House Clinic. The consortium will be supported by a larger network of community organizations and individuals committed to addressing Madison County’s opioid epidemic.
“We hope to reduce the occurrence of OUD among new and at-risk users, as well as fatal opioid-related overdoses; expand treatment options, including access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT); and increase peer recovery and treatment options that help people start and stay in recovery,” said Jozefowicz.
This consortium will develop plans to ensure that services provided to the target population are affordable and accessible. The consortium will also work to seek long-term solutions to our community’s crisis.
KRFDC would like to thank Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Congressman Andy Barr for their strong support of this much needed community resource.
“The scourge of opioid and substance abuse is devastating communities throughout our Commonwealth, and Kentucky River Foothills Development Council is addressing the problem head-on,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. “Since I became Senate Majority Leader, combating the epidemic has become a top national priority, and federal funding for the fight has increased more than 1,300%. I look forward to working with organizations like KRFDC to promote long-term recovery and to save lives in Kentucky and around the nation.”
