USDA partners with communities to support opioid prevention, treatment and recovery in rural America
Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett recently announced that the United States Department of Agriculture is partnering with rural communities in 22 states to support opportunities for opioid prevention, treatment and recovery.
“With its impact on workforce, quality of life and the economic vitality of rural communities from Maine to California, the opioid epidemic is more than just a matter of public health – it is an issue of rural prosperity,” Hazlett said. “Under the leadership of President Trump, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities in planning and building local responses to this monumental challenge.”
USDA is investing $10.7 million in 85 projects in 22 states through the Community Facilities program. Below is one of the projects being supported in High Plains Journal readership area.
In Newport, Arkansas, the White River Women’s Shelter is receiving a $150,000 grant to convert the former Jackson County Jail into a shelter for people recovering from opioid misuse. It has partnered with Families, Inc. to provide substance abuse counseling for all ages on an individual, couple, family and group basis. It will primarily serve residents in Jackson County.
Hazlett announced that USDA is making investments in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Vermont and Wisconsin.
