UK St. Claire and NE KY Substance Use Response Coalition Awarded $300,000 Core Priorities Grant

UK St. Claire, on behalf of the Eastern Kentucky Substance Use Response Coalition, is pleased to announce they have been awarded a $300,000 Core Priorities Grant by the Pallottine Foundation of Huntington, West Virginia. SCH and the Coalition were the only recipients of this grant in Kentucky and only one of four recipients between Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia.

SCH is a fiscal agent for, and one of eight members of, the Coalition.

The Pallottine Foundation focuses on caring for the spiritual, emotional, and physical health of those they serve. There are four core focus areas, including food insecurity, mental and behavioral health, substance use disorder, and tobacco cessation. With their portion of the grant, SCH’s Eastern Kentucky Area Health Education Center (NE KY AHEC) will partner with Pathways, Inc. and the Boyd County and Greenup County jails to implement the “First Day Forward” program, a jail re-entry program that will connect recently released individuals who struggle with substance use disorder to vital community resources following incarceration.

“Being awarded this grant will continue to help us broaden our efforts to reduce substance abuse,” said Donald H. Lloyd, II, SCH President/CEO.

“First Day Forward” offers assistance with sober living arrangements, food, clothing, and hygiene needs, community resources, employment opportunities, access to medical care, and long-term recovery support.

“The ‘First Day Forward’ program helps participants with everyday needs so that they are able to regain control of their lives – one step at a time,” said Lloyd. “St. Claire is proud to be a part of making such a difference with this program and is so grateful for the support of the Pallottine Foundation throughout the journey.”