![City announces first round of overdose prevention fund grantees [Philadelphia Tribune]](https://scattergoodfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg.jpg)
As the city of Philadelphia continues to grapple with its ongoing opioid epidemic, city officials have awarded $1.9 million in grants to the first round of grantees for the city’s overdose prevention fund, an initiative aimed at supporting community-led efforts to battle the overdose crisis.
Established in December 2022, the Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund (Prevention Fund) is a grant-making program managed by the Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation with the intention of investing funds “from the national opioid settlements to mobilize community-based organizations as trusted messengers and bring prevention resources to areas of the city that are most impacted by the overdose crisis,” according to a news release.
“While the overdose crisis affects all of Philadelphia, each neighborhood has its own strengths and faces unique challenges due to the overdose crisis. The Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund empowers communities by strengthening grassroots organizations who bring their local knowledge and expertise to the table,” said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.
“Every dollar distributed will support community-led efforts to support our neighbors, prevent substance misuse and heal wounds — both visible and hidden — that the opioid epidemic has caused our beloved city.”
To read the full article by Alec Larson, click here.