Oct. 1, 2009
Byrd Secures Funding to Address Substance Abuse Problems
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Washington, DC (HNN) – Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-WV, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has approved two grants totaling $54,723 to address West Virginia’s substance abuse problem.
The WALS Foundation of Wheeling received $24,723 from the ARC to implement a mock trial program intended to educate youth on substance abuse problems. With the aid of volunteer trial lawyers, students follow scripts and portray a real life scenario demonstrating the results of choices to abuse drugs. Every student in the participating classes plays a role, bringing the justice system to life and reducing drug abuse by educating them on the consequences. Successfully used in Ohio County (WV), this funding will expand the program to schools in Braxton, Clay, Kanawha, Marshall, McDowell, Tyler, Webster, and Wyoming Counties.
The ARC also granted $30,000 to the Partnership of African American Churches (PAAC) in Dunbar for a community-based initiative to combat substance abuse among African Americans in Appalachia. Employers have told local pastors that it is difficult to hire and retain workers due to drug-testing failures. With ARC assistance, the PAAC will organize community-based coalitions among the African-American church communities of Logan and Mingo Counties. Coalition members will assess local substance abuse problems, resources, and readiness; receive training and technical assistance; and implement action plans. Each coalition will receive approximately $5,000 to support their implementation activities, which will focus on reducing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among the target population.
“Substance abuse is a community-wide concern that deserves a community-wide effort,” said Byrd. “This aid from the ARC will help community-based organizations educate both adults and children alike about how destructive substance abuse can be on their lives and their futures.”
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Byrd Secures Funding to Address Substance Abuse Problems
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Washington, DC (HNN) – Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-WV, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has approved two grants totaling $54,723 to address West Virginia’s substance abuse problem.
The WALS Foundation of Wheeling received $24,723 from the ARC to implement a mock trial program intended to educate youth on substance abuse problems. With the aid of volunteer trial lawyers, students follow scripts and portray a real life scenario demonstrating the results of choices to abuse drugs. Every student in the participating classes plays a role, bringing the justice system to life and reducing drug abuse by educating them on the consequences. Successfully used in Ohio County (WV), this funding will expand the program to schools in Braxton, Clay, Kanawha, Marshall, McDowell, Tyler, Webster, and Wyoming Counties.
The ARC also granted $30,000 to the Partnership of African American Churches (PAAC) in Dunbar for a community-based initiative to combat substance abuse among African Americans in Appalachia. Employers have told local pastors that it is difficult to hire and retain workers due to drug-testing failures. With ARC assistance, the PAAC will organize community-based coalitions among the African-American church communities of Logan and Mingo Counties. Coalition members will assess local substance abuse problems, resources, and readiness; receive training and technical assistance; and implement action plans. Each coalition will receive approximately $5,000 to support their implementation activities, which will focus on reducing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among the target population.
“Substance abuse is a community-wide concern that deserves a community-wide effort,” said Byrd. “This aid from the ARC will help community-based organizations educate both adults and children alike about how destructive substance abuse can be on their lives and their futures.”
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