Paint Valley ADAMH has awarded more than $750,000 to prevent substance use among youth

The Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services Board (ADAMH) received a $750,776.40 grant to support prevention efforts for local youth.

“The OneOhio Recovery Foundation grant will expand current prevention efforts in our five counties with positive alternatives designed to curb the impact of the opioid crisis on youth and families in our region,” said Melanie Swisher, Executive Director of Paint Valley ADAMH. Board. “Prevention programming creates positive alternatives and education to increase protective factors in children and reduce the likelihood of future substance use disorders in our youth.”

The funding will support the prevention efforts of several service providers, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters of South Central Ohio, The Recovery Council, Pickaway Area Recovery Services and the Community Action Commission of Fayette County.

“Our children deserve the absolute best in prevention services,” Swisher said. “We must continue to work upstream to give our children the skills they need to live healthy lives. The Paint Valley ADAMH Board continues to assess, evaluate and plan needed services within our board region, and this grant will help us address some of the identified needs by expanding prevention beyond the classroom.”

The grant is part of an initial round of approximately $51 million made available by the OneOhio Recovery Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to combat the opioid epidemic by supporting prevention, treatment and recovery programs and services offered by organizations on the front lines of the addiction epidemic in our communities. The grant was funded with 55 percent of the settlement funds Ohio receives from the pharmaceutical industry as a result of its role in the national opioid epidemic.

Across Ohio, organizations like the Paint Valley ADAMH Board are working day in and day out to strengthen their communities affected by the opioid epidemic, said Alisha Nelson, executive director of the OneOhio Recovery Foundation.

“We are pleased to partner with the Paint Valley ADAMH Board to support their efforts to save lives, rebuild families affected by addiction, and create strong and resilient places to live,” said Nelson.

The foundation received an overwhelming, strong response to the grant, with requests totaling well over half a billion dollars. The foundation has completed a comprehensive review of grant applicants, including an evaluation by the OneOhio Regional Board, the OneOhio Expert Panel and the OneOhio Board of Directors.

Grant recipients:

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to addressing the opioid crisis.

• Use evidence-based prevention strategies that align with Ohio-approved control strategies, including prevention, recovery support, services for affected families and children, and more.

A complete list of recipients can be found at OneOhioFoundation.com/GrantAwards.

Organizations and leaders wishing to submit future applications can sign up on the Foundation’s website to receive updates.

About the Paint Valley ADAMH Board: The Paint Valley ADAMH Board was established in 1967 to ensure the availability of community-based alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services to the residents of Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike counties and Ross. Our mission is to improve the behavioral health care system for our communities and ensure individuals and families have access to person-centered, evidence-based treatment and support.

About the OneOhio Recovery Foundation: The OneOhio Recovery Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation established under the leadership of Governor Mike DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost, and other state and local leaders, with the mission of advancing Ohio’s efforts in of addiction prevention, treatment and recovery. now and in the future. Governed by a board of 29 members from across Ohio, the Foundation is funded by 55 percent of the settlement funds Ohio receives from the pharmaceutical industry as a result of its role in the national opioid epidemic. Funds support local efforts to prevent and combat addiction and are also invested to support these efforts in the long term.

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