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Pennsylvania awards nearly $400K to educate, protect Beaver County kids from opioid risks

Beaver County Times - 9/13/2021

Sep. 13—Thanks to funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, Beaver County students and families continue to learn about the risks of opioids and develop skills to keep them safe.

State Rep. Rob Matzie, D16, Ambridge, announced last week the awarding of more than $390,000 to Beaver County students and families, which includes $370,805 to Community Health Challenge of Southwestern Pennsylvania to continue the Beaver County Opioid Prevention Program.

The Beaver County Opioid Prevention Program is one of five pilot programs statewide that team counties with school districts, local nonprofits and the community.

"The Beaver County programs are teaching students in the Aliquippa, New Brighton and Rochester Area school districts how to recognize and avoid the dangers of opioid abuse," Matzie said. "The programs are also helping families develop skills to protect kids from the risks of substance abuse and other factors that can lead them into trouble.

"The programs have already helped many students and families in our district over the past two years. Securing this funding will allow them to continue for another year."

Along with the $370,805, Matzie added that a second grant of $22,313 to The Prevention Network will fund the Project Towards No Drug Abuse, which supports at-risk youth. Both grants to Beaver County were recommended by the PCCD's Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee and are supported by federal State Opioid Response funds, according to a news release from Matzie's office.

In addition to the Beaver County funding, $2.65 million was awarded to Allegheny County programs aimed at preventing and reducing violence and combating opioid abuse, according to Matzie, who represents both counties.

Contact Joshua Carney at jcarney@gannett.com or 412-228-9178. Follow Joshua on Twitter: @ByJoshCarney

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