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Gov. Beshear Awards Nearly $6 Million in Grant Funding To Help Pregnant and Parenting Women Fight Addiction

Funding to address adverse events related to Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 8, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear awarded $5,991,800 in grant funding to expand treatment and recovery services including those for pregnant and parenting women with addiction. The funding will also be used to help address Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS).

“Every single Kentuckian deserves to live a happy, healthy life in a commonwealth that will provide for them and ensure they have every opportunity to succeed," said Gov. Beshear. “This almost $6 million in funding allows us to give every Kentuckian a successful opportunity from the very beginning of life by providing critical health care treatment while curbing addiction."

The funding has been distributed to 17 non-profit organizations, such as Community Mental Health Centers and Neonatal Abstinence Treatment Programs, through the Senate Bill 192 Treatment Grant administered by the Office of Drug Control Policy and Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. NAS is a complex set of symptoms consistent with opiate withdrawal that is seen in babies exposed to opiates before birth.

“By working with community partners to fight neonatal abstinence syndrome, we are reducing addiction in Kentucky and saving lives," Office of Drug Control Policy Executive Director Van Ingram said. “We must erase the stigma surrounding addiction treatment, encourage more Kentuckians to seek help and reduce the pain too many Kentucky families go through each day. We make strides every day in creating the Kentucky we all want for our children, let's keep our eye on the finish line."

“These steps will lead to stronger, healthier communities," said Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander. “As we move forward as a state, we have to bring everyone with us. We have to lift each other up and provide ways to help people lift themselves up so every Kentuckian has the opportunity to reach their full human potential."

For a full list of the award recipients, click here.

Leaders from several organizations explain how these funds will be used to support the development or expansion of comprehensive, evidence-based residential treatment services and/or outpatient treatment and recovery support for pregnant and parenting women fighting addiction as they transition from residential services.

Cumberland River Comprehensive Care Center has been awarded $290,400 to educate and assist mothers in providing proper infant care, for residential services, and for continued recovery supports while transitioning to autonomous living. “This will give us the opportunity to serve young women who suffer from the disease of addiction, to give them hope, education and life skills to assist them on their path to recovery," Tim Cesario, regional director of recovery services for Cumberland River Comprehensive Care Center said.

Pathways has been awarded $300,000 to expand mobile crisis units and include mental health crisis services for those suffering from addiction. “This funding is critical to expand safety net services to our communities," said Aaron Ellis, crisis residential coordinator for Pathways. “We have seen a marked increase in the need for crises services and this funding will allow us to serve more community."

Since taking office in 2019, Gov. Beshear has promised to provide resources to those struggling with addiction and their families because one life lost to drug overdose is one too many. He began this work during his time in the Attorney General's office and renewed this promise after taking the oath of office to begin his second term as Governor.

In April 2023, Gov. Beshear announced that Kentucky's drug overdose deaths declined by 5% in 2022 compared with 2021, marking the first decline since 2018. Kentucky was only one of eight states that saw a significant decrease, while the nation saw an uptick in deaths.

Kentucky is also leading the way in providing treatment services to Kentuckians through the state's Treatment Access Program, which allows those without health insurance to enter residential treatment, and by creating Recovery Ready Communities, expanding health care coverage and increasing treatment beds. According to the National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey 2022, Kentucky ranks No. 1 for per capita residential substance-use disorder treatment beds.

Following the implementation of new workforce programs for those leaving incarceration and establishing the highest number of corrections-based addiction treatment beds, the state also announced the lowest recidivism rate in history.

Treatment Resources
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, the KY HELP Call Center can connect you to treatment by calling 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357). Findhelpnowky.org can also provide information about treatment programs near you.

Last year, Gov. Beshear announced a new searchable website to help people find recovery housing, FindRecoveryHousingNowKY.org. Since the website's launch, over 24,000 individuals have been connected to recovery housing resources across the commonwealth.

Visit the Kentucky State Police website to find a post where those suffering from addiction can be paired with a local officer who will assist with locating an appropriate treatment program through KSP's Angel Initiative.