LITTLE ROCK – During a check presentation ceremony on Friday, representatives from the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership (ARORP) announced thirteen awardees of the Coalition Partnership Empowerment (COPE) initiative. Selected coalitions will receive $25,000 in funding to attend personalized training with CADCA, an international organization created to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions to create and maintain safe, healthy and drug-free communities globally. “CADCA's work with the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership, and throughout the greater state of Arkansas, will equip substance use and misuse prevention coalitions with the training they need to become sustainable, transformative forces. Community coalitions continue to be at the epicenter of addressing the opioid epidemic in their communities, so it is vital that we can train them to promptly and effectively initiate action,” said CADCA’s President and CEO, General Barrye L. Price. Part of the COPE project includes training Arkansas coalitions to apply for the federal Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program next year. If every coalition were selected for the program, then Arkansas cities and counties could receive up to $16 million in DFC funding over the next ten years. Partnership Deputy Director Tenesha Barnes said during the conference, “Coalitions are one of the most effective ways to empower communities to prevent substance misuse locally. It is a privilege to see these thirteen coalitions honored for their work and empowered to continue protecting their communities against the dangers of substance misuse.” Coalitions who were selected for the COPE project include: • Amazing Angels – Chicot County • The Young Artist Studio – Union County • Sebastian County Opioid Task Force - Sebastian County, Scott County • Carroll County Hometown Health – Carroll County • Prevention Awareness Youth Support (PAYS) – Baxter County, Marion County • Newton County Hometown Health – Newton County • Greene County Mental Health and Substance Abuse – Greene County • Bridging the Gap – Miller County • The Harvest House – Clark County • Madison County Health Coalition – Madison County • Healing in the Hood – Mississippi County • Succeeding in Success – Desha County • DAAF Youth Coalition - Ashley County At the conference, ARORP also announced funding for four additional projects. They awarded $1,118,217 to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department, which will be used for community outreach for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, prioritizing individuals with opioid use disorder. Natural State Recovery received $402,134.88 to purchase a facility that they will convert into an outpatient recovery center in Downtown Little Rock. In Logan County, Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center received $738,903 to renovate Horizon Renewal Center, a voluntary, secure adult substance use disorder residential treatment facility located in Booneville, AR. They also received $104,736 for a peer support specialist for the Logan County Community and Jail Recovery Project.
