April 26, 2024

IRCF Awards the Substance Awareness Center $25,000

The Substance Awareness Center (SAC) of Indian River County strives to reduce the impact of substance misuse and behavioral health disorders in Indian River County through prevention, education, treatment, and recovery support. IRCF recently awarded SAC $25,000 to support their Peer Outreach and Recovery Support program.

Jeff Pickering, Carrie Maynard-Lester, Irene Cauwels, & Toni Hamner

SAC employs peers who are trained and certified to use their lived experience to help engage and support persons with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Research shows that peers are very effective in engaging persons with SUD into treatment and recovery. The peers help oversee and operated their Recovery Assistance Program by providing recovery support services. They are on the front line helping residents navigate the challenges of sober living. The Recovery Assistance Program offers persons in early recovery from a substance use disorder supportive housing, recovery support services, life skills, and treatment. They will serve 15 residents in this program.

Progress in the program will be measured utilizing the Brief Assessment Recovery Capital (BARC) Tool, which assesses changes in beliefs that are essential to recovery. In addition the peers provide assertive outreach services. SAC will reach at least 2,000 persons with substance use disorder per year to facilitate outreach and engagement into recovery. Trained peers conduct phone and in person outreach, engagement, and recovery support services. Peers deliver recovery support services at community partner locations to include the Indian River County Jail, Camp Haven, The Source, & Cleveland Clinic Indian River. Peers help the community with much needed overdose prevention by providing Narcan training and distribution and MAT education to at risk populations. At least 200 persons will be educated and 300 kits disseminated.

Indian River Community Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking is aligned with a vision of a more healthy, prosperous, and generous Indian River County community. Grantmaking priorities are informed by the findings of the most recent community needs assessment and the most current data and information collected on Indian River Indicators. Grants from the Community Enrichment Fund are reviewed by a Grants Committee comprised of volunteers Suzanne Bertman, Pat Brier, Toni Hamner, Dale Jacobs, Wanda Lincoln, Dawn Michael, and Angelia Perry.

IRCF is holding informational sessions for nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving Indian River County who are interested in applying for a competitive grant. If interested, please call 772.492.1407 or email Brooke Sauserman to reserve your spot. Please read our Guidelines before registering.

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