Greater Lowell Health Alliance Announces Substance Use Prevention Grants

The Greater Lowell Health Alliance of the Community Health Network Area 10 has announced it's offering grants for the fall of 2014 to support programs and services to address the increasing issues surrounding substance abuse in the Greater Lowell area.

Utilizing a $200,000 contract awarded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts this year, GLHA is offering Substance Use Prevention Grants to provide grant funding to increase services and programs in the following priority areas:

• Build the capacity of those who work with children and youth to deliver prevention services.

• Address change in the social environment by promoting community norms and public policies that decrease substance use.

• Reduce risk factors and increase protective factors among youth and families by providing substance abuse prevention, education, outreach programs and services.

• Build local partnerships to implement strategies that change community conditions and increase the community's capacity to sustain effective efforts.

Up to $200,000 will be allocated to address this critical health issue in the area of substance use prevention and education. The grant application can be found online.

Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, August 8 and grant recipients will be notified by September 19.  

Applications may apply for mini-grants ranging from $5,000-$10,000 or a single grant of up to $100,000. GLHA will award only one grant in this range, which must demonstrate a regional effort to build the capacity of those who work with children and youth to deliver substance abuse prevention services.

“As an organization solely dedicated to improving the quality of health in the communities we serve, we are very eager to put these funds into the hands of the front-line organizations addressing the substance abuse crisis that threatens the quality of life of those who live and work in Greater Lowell,” said GLHA Executive Director Kerrie D’Entremont.  

By raising awareness and providing resources for community organizations, the GLHA empowers them to make decisions and take actions that will lead to an improvement in the region’s health.