Applicants sought for drug-abuse prevention grants

Organizers of local drug abuse prevention efforts are looking for more community groups interested in grant funding to help stem the epidemic.

Project Prevent is being funded through the Mark and Wendy Elwood Substance Abuse Prevention Fund. According to organizers, 25 Project Prevent projects are underway now, funded by about $95,000 in grants. The grants are administered by Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County and the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County.

Those projects have ranged from a program to help preschool teachers deal with developmental delays caused by drug-related issues to a Grandparent’s Day organized by Thrive Alliance to help grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. That situation is frequently caused by parents with substance abuse issues.

Project Prevent will run through April of next year. You can get grant proposal guidelines on the Heritage Fund website at www.heritagefundbc.org.