May 13, 2013
Featured in the Post Star
Story by: Michael Goot
Link to full article can be found here: http://poststar.com/news/local/grant-awarded-to-reduce-youth-substance-abuse/article_a3d0e55c-0ec5-577c-b5b0-1bba620ac4a9.html
SARATOGA SPRINGS: The Prevention Council and the South Glens Falls Community Coalition for Family Wellness have been awarded $627,300 to address the problem of prescription opiate and heroin abuse in northern Saratoga County.
The funding will be awarded over a 4 1/2-year period and will be used to hire staff and assess the problem in the community among youths and young adults and to launch initiatives. In addition, the coalition will mentor another community coalition to carry out similar efforts, according to a news release.
Over the past five years, the Community Coalition for Family Wellness has initiated a Parent University program, developed student leaders and continued a campaign to reduce substance use by youths. The Prevention Council will serve as the fiscal agent for the grant, and provide technical support and guidance as needed.
The coalition covers the geographic boundaries of the South Glens Falls Central School District including the village of South Glens Falls, town of Moreau, parts of Wilton and Northumberland and the hamlet of Gansevoort. It is one of 10 coalitions in New York to receive a Partnership for Success grant from the NYS Office on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
“We are pleased to have funding to address the serious increase in illicit prescription opiate and heroin abuse. As the demographics of opiate use change, the impact is being felt in small suburban communities like those in northern Saratoga County,” said Jenn Wood, a coalition coordinator in a news release.