Peters Applauds $92,469 Federal Grant to Combat Opioid Crisis in Genesee County
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today applauded a $92,469 federal grant from the Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS) to the United Way of Genesee County. The grant will allow for AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members to work closely with the United Way’s Genesee County Opioid Abuse Prevention Program to combat the opioid crisis in the region.
“Almost everyone in Michigan knows someone who has been impacted by the opioid crisis,” said Senator Peters. “Opioid use has crippled too many communities for far too long. I applaud the Corporation for National Community Service for supporting existing efforts by the United Way of Genesee County to support Flint families struggling with the devastating effects of opioid use.”
With this grant, AmeriCorps VISTA members will build capacity for multiple organizations fighting the crisis by:
- Reducing the number of opioid drugs available through partnerships with prescribers and prescription drug collection programs;
- Preventing opioid use through education, trainings, campaigns and media outreach;
- Building and coordinating community coalitions and recruiting volunteers; and
- Conducting research and data management.
The United Way of Genesee County will work to place Americorp VISTA members within law enforcement agencies, school districts, and community coalitions.
This effort builds on CNCS’s previous commitment to Genesee County. In January 2016, Peters worked closely with CNCS in sending an AmeriCorps team to Flint to help distribute water filters, educate citizens about health and safety related to lead exposure, and connect residents to government service programs to support better health and nutrition.
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