Manchester, New Hampshire – Harvard Pilgrim Health Care today announced the recipients of its $35,000 Opioid Misuse Prevention, Recovery and Treatment Grants program.  The program, funded by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, is providing grants to four New Hampshire nonprofits that serve residents dealing with opioid addiction with evidence-based prevention, treatment or recovery services.

The grant recipients are:

• Families in Transition, Manchester ($10,000)

The grant will be used to hire a Certified Recovery Support Worker to provide support for residents in the Willows Recovery Housing Program. Residents will have access to case management, continued outpatient treatment, self-help groups, and employment workshops, all of which will be provided at the Manchester Recovery and Treatment Center, at other community agencies, and by outside community groups.

• Riverbend, Concord ($10,000)

Harvard Pilgrim Foundation’s support will enable Riverbend to establish Choices Adolescent Treatment Services as a robust teen outpatient program in NH and continue to provide an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to help break the cycle of dependency and addiction to alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, opiates and other substances. The grant will help Riverbend expand their client base and provide much-needed care to those who cannot otherwise afford the services.

• Second Start, Concord ($5,232)

The Opioid Misuse Prevention Grant will enable Second Start to expand its efforts to serve students at Merrimack Valley Middle School and Merrimack Valley High School impacted by the opioid epidemic.  Specialized group services will be provided, and environmental initiatives will target hidden populations of students who have not come forward with concerns around opioid use, either with themselves or someone they care about.

• The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester - ($10,000)

The grant will enable The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester to work toward destigmatizing behavioral health-related issues by creating and distributing a series of high-quality, documentary-style short films exploring first-hand behavioral health challenges and successes in our region.

“Given the severity of the drug crisis in New Hampshire, we felt it was important to step up and support those organizations helping to prevent and treat individuals and their families affected by opioid misuse in the state,” said William Brewster, M.D., Vice President of New Hampshire Regional Market at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.  “Addiction is a disease, and with New Hampshire leading the nation in overdose deaths per capita for fentanyl, we hope this grants program will help organizations providing health, hope and support for freedom from addiction.”

About Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

Harvard Pilgrim and its family of companies provide health benefit plans, programs and services to more than 3 million customers in New England and beyond. A leading not-for-profit health services company, we guide our members – and the communities we serve – to better health.    

 Founded by doctors nearly 50 years ago, we’re building on our legacy. In partnership with our network of more than 70,000 doctors and 182 hospitals, we’re improving health outcomes and lowering costs through clinical quality and innovative care management. 

Our commitment to the communities we serve is driven by the passion of the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation. Through its work, low- and moderate-income families are gaining greater access to fresh, affordable food—a cornerstone to better health and well-being.

To learn more about Harvard Pilgrim, visit www.harvardpilgrim.org

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