Union County issues five substance abuse grants to local non-profits

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substance abuse grants

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Five substance abuse and mental health non-profits received grant funding from Union County.

The funds come from a portion of the alcohol license fees. In 2010, $50,000 was set aside in alcohol licensing fees to give back to the community for the purpose of combatting local substance and alcohol abuse.

“Roughly half of these funds are distributed each year in the form of grants that interested organizations can apply for,” Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris explained. “A completely independent committee reviews the applications and does the grants.”

Paris isn’t involved with the committee or selection process of the grant recipients.

The five organizations each received $5,000 at the August Commissioner meeting. A Change in Our World, Inc., Freedom Ministries, New Hope Counseling, Positive Pathways, Inc, and Union County Family Connection were the organizations that received funding.

“There’s such a tremendous problem nationwide with the opioid crisis, it’s very nice to know we have these non-profit organizations spending their time and effort to assist locally,” Paris added.

A Change in Our World focuses on suicide prevention and conducts the majority of its work with teenagers. The organization founded by Rebecca Brendle brings young people together and helps to employ teenagers at Blairsville Ice Cream and Mini-Golf, next to Rib Country.

“We’ve kinda given them something to do in addition to our ministry work. We also can take volunteers,” Brendle stated.

New Hope Counseling Director Troy Beaver explained the organizations’ role in helping out individuals with substance abuse problems.

“It takes addressing the medical, psychological, and spiritual in order to treat addiction,” Beaver said. “New Hope Counseling is the only state-certified facility in Union County that is certified by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health, DUI Division Program, DDS, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association.”

All counselors are Georgia Addiction Counselor Association certified in substance abuse counseling. The group provides assistance in a number of ways to anyone suffering from addiction and trying to correct life choices.

Families receive free consults if they suspect someone is experiencing addiction. They will refer people to more intensive programs if necessary.

The grant funding at New Hope will go toward treatment for individuals who meet certain requirements such as Union County resident, desire to make a change, and fall beneath the poverty level.

“We appreciate this money and the people who get this money will appreciate this money, but they’ll get a little more than appreciation,” Beaver added. “It will give them a little hope for a hopeless situation.”

Beaver touched on Georgia’s accountability courts. The systems are an intensive two-year program to help those suffering from addiction. However, one can only take part in accountability courts if a felony is committed.

Positive Pathways is the newest organization in Union County. Founders Summer Crest and Shawna Harkins spoke about their recovery organizations.

Positive Pathways founders

“We provide peer support counseling. We want to be the hope for people who are struggling to come to us…There’s a lot of issues in our small town that a lot of people don’t talk about, but we want to thank the commissioner and the board, and everyone that supports us. We hope to do a lot of great things in Union County,” they said.

Positive Pathways has community events with the next one scheduled for September 3 at Meeks Park.

A lot of programs exist in Union County to help those with substance abuse problems such as AA, NA, Celebrate Recovery, Redemption Point, and some more unofficial groups who gather.

Family Connection and Freedom Ministries couldn’t attend due to illness.

County Business

Union County and Legacy Link entered into an agreement for the fiscal year 2022 to help run the Senior Center. The contract was $95,000.

Georgia Department of Transportation and the county agreed on $92,204 in grant funding for the 5311-transit system. GDOT will provide $46,000 and Union will match $46,000.

MedLink Georgia Inc, and Union County entered into a lease agreement for $100.00 for a medical facility in Suches. The lease is for three years. At the beginning, the medical office will be open once a week with the goal for the facility to be open three times a week.

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