Local community coalitions awarded more than $210,000

Three Southeast Michigan organizations received a total of $215,000 in grants on January 17 in Charter Clinton Township, Mich. courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, The Michigan Health Endowment Fund, The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and The Superior Health Foundation. The funding is provided through the Taking Action on Opioid and Prescription Drug Abuse in Michigan by Supporting Community Responses initiative and will help these community coalitions begin new projects or enhance or expand existing projects aimed at reducing opioid and prescription drug abuse and harm. Three grants were presented to the following Southeast Michigan organizations:

· $70,000 to Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities

· $70,000 to Community CompStat AmeriCorps Urban Safety Project

· $75,000 to Families Against Narcotics

In Macomb County, more than 750 opioid/heroin-related deaths have been reported from 2010 to 2015. These three Southeast Michigan community coalitions provide a variety of resources and networks devoted to prevention, recovery and support for individuals and families struggling with substance abuse. The grants will support projects over 18 months to identify and implement collective actions to prevent and reduce opioid and prescription drug misuse and address the harms they cause.