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Polish Program will seek to reduce and prevent prescription drug and opioid abuse
Middletown, Conn., April 30, 2019: Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) today announced it has been awarded $243,072 in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps and other national service programs. This award will leverage an additional $514,765 from the private sector, foundations, and other sources, in accordance with the unique AmeriCorps model.
The grant will support a multi-state collaborative, including CHC and health centers in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and New York, aiming to reduce and prevent prescription drug and opioid abuse. AmeriCorps members will serve in these six states, conducting outreach, patient engagement, community education and prevention services in high-need areas.
According to Margaret Flinter, CHC’s Senior Vice President and Clinical Director, “Prescription drug and opioid abuse touches every segment of society. We have lost too many lives and need to end this epidemic. In Connecticut, the AmeriCorps grant will allow us to implement measurable, evidence-based strategies addressing the crisis in under-resourced regions of the state. AmeriCorps members bring passion and diligence to their role, and will make a real difference in our communities.”
“Building on our nation’s strong tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, AmeriCorps members will change lives, improve communities, and build a safer, stronger, and more united America,” said Chester Spellman, director of AmeriCorps. “For 25 years, the AmeriCorps members who pledge to ‘get things done’ have represented the best of America while demonstrating the great promise and ideals of our country. I salute all the AmeriCorps members who will join them and congratulate Connecticut’s Community Health Center, Inc. on their 2019 AmeriCorps grant.”
This year marks the 25th anniversary of AmeriCorps. Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than 1 million Americans have served, providing more than 1.5 billion hours of service and earned more than $3.6 billion in education scholarships, more than $1 billion of which has been used to pay back student debt. Those interested in joining AmeriCorps can learn more at AmeriCorps.gov/Join.
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through its AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs and leads the nation’s volunteering and service efforts. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.