VOACC Contact: Nicholle Granger
ngranger@voaches.org
DECEMBER 20, 2024 | LANHAM, MD
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas is excited to announce that we have been awarded $3.75M in grant funding by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to launch two substance use disorder (SUD) prevention programs in Virginia and North Carolina. The Building Bridges to Hope and Quad County Save programs will help to prevent and reduce substance misuse and related challenges for youth, veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, pregnant women, individuals in recovery and other populations in need through community-based prevention and mental health promotion services.
Leveraging evidence-based and culturally competent services, educational outreach, and community partnerships, the Building Bridges to Hope and Quad County SAVE programs will work to: (1) increase service provider capacity to address substance misuse in at-risk communities, (2) educate individual community members on risk and protective factors for addiction, and (3) reduce the rate of SUD and relapse. Both programs will utilize social platforms, service provider collaborations, and community-based workshops and trainings to help those struggling with substance misuse build healthier lives.
In Virginia, the Building Bridges to Hope program will support underserved communities in Newport News, Portsmouth, Isle of Wright, and Franklin. According to the Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources, the rate of SUD diagnoses doubled for both adults and youth in one year – increasing from 7.3 percent to 14.5 percent for adults and 3.7 percent to 7 percent for youth. Overall, Virginia saw a 35 percent increase in overdose deaths between June 2021 and June 2022.
“Through Building Bridges to Hope, we look forward to partnering with community members, organizations and agencies to provide resources, education, and support to reduce substance misuse. Together we can build bridges to change lives and improve communities.”
Lisa Snider, Vice President of Virginia/DC Programs
In North Carolina, the Quad County Save program will support rural and underserved areas in Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, and Pender counties where substance misuse and limited access to mental health services were identified as top concerns by respondents of local community needs assessment surveys. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), overdose related deaths across the state nearly doubled, increasing from 22.4 percent in 2019 to 41.4 percent in 2022.
“The impact of substance use disorder has reached epidemic proportions across our state, and this program is a crucial step in combating the rising rates of overdose deaths and related challenges. Through collaborative partnerships with local organizations, service providers, and community leaders, we are committed to creating pathways to healthier lives for our most vulnerable populations. “
Dr. Ron Flack, Vice President of the Carolinas
Since 1994, VOACC has used evidence-based treatment, recovery and community outreach methods in clinic- and community-based settings to effectively address the myriad of individual, environmental, and social factors that contribute to substance misuse. In 2023, we supported 497 men, women and youth on their journey to recovery across our regions.
To learn more about our substance use recovery programming, visit www.voachesapeake.org/services/substance-use-recovery.
About Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas (“VOACC”) is a faith-based, nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire self-reliance, dignity, and hope through housing, health and human services.
At VOACC, we have been helping to create Healthy Communities for All for over 128 years by aligning housing, health and human services. We actively pursue health equity by filling the gap in housing and care for underserved populations, including those who are experiencing homelessness, low-income, underinsured or uninsured, justice-involved and veterans. By offering integrated housing and care, we address the social determinants that impact the long-term stability for those in need.
Through a dedicated team of management, staff and volunteers who are guided by our Core Values – Visionary, One Body, Integrity, Compassion, Excellence, and Faith – we are the safety net for thousands of men, women and children each year across Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and the Carolinas. We operate over 49 programs focused on 8 areas of service: homeless services, affordable housing, mental health, substance use recovery, intellectual/developmental disabilities services, community re-entry, veteran services and workforce development.
VOACC has over 900 staff members and more than 2,000 volunteers. The organization helps over 11,700 individuals and families every year from Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and the Carolinas. For more information on VOACC, please visit www.voachesapeake.org.