Funding seeks to address inaccessibility to treatment and counseling for pregnant and parenting women in rural settings, as well as their families
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (Oct. 3, 2022) — Gaudenzia, Inc., the region’s largest non-profit provider of treatment for people with substance use disorder (SUD), will receive $525,000 in federal funds to provide a comprehensive continuum of integrated, medical-assisted, and evidence-based care for pregnant and parenting women through House of Healing in Erie County, Pa.
In Pennsylvania, among the most vulnerable individuals impacted by SUDs are pregnant and parenting women, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, with rural counties disproportionately impacted. The federal funding will help Gaudenzia provide recovery support, case management, and harm reduction services for 150 Erie-area high-risk pregnant and parenting women in the House of Healing program. It will also help Gaudenzia serve approximately 300 children either in residence with them or living elsewhere, and approximately 300 family members of both the women and children.
Specifically, in hopes of breaking the cycle of addiction that happens in families, Gaudenzia will use developmental screening for infants and children to ensure appropriate referrals to early intervention services as necessary, connecting them to needed pediatric, behavioral health, and educational support services in the community. It will also provide counseling services to clients’ family members with the help of the funding, offering parenting skills education for mothers and fathers, supporting reunification efforts for families who are engaged in the child welfare system, and providing peer support and care coordination to ensure individuals and families can access community resources needed for stability.
“These funds will help advance Gaudenzia’s goal of transitioning towards a more family-centered model of SUD treatment that meets the needs of each family member, not just the individual seeking care,” said Gaudenzia CEO Dr. Dale Klatzker. “We’d like to thank the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Pa. Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and the Single County Authorities, as well as our many community partners for their support. We appreciate our partnership with the Biden Administration and Pennsylvania officials as we work together to stem the opioid crisis that continues to worsen on our streets and in our neighborhoods.”
The funding comes from $79.1 million in overdose prevention grants to Pennsylvania-based addiction treatment and overdose prevention programs from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This funding is part of President Biden’s National Drug Control Strategy, the HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy, and the Biden-Harris Unity Agenda — initiatives all aimed at addressing the nation’s opioid and overdose crisis.
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ABOUT GAUDENZIA, INC.
Gaudenzia, Inc. is one of the largest nonprofit substance use and co-occurring disorders treatment centers in the United States, with 51 facilities operating in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. The agency serves about 14,000 individuals annually and operates 120 programs providing a full continuum of care. Since 1968, Gaudenzia has provided specialized services and programs to for all demographics, including pregnant and parenting mothers, adolescents, people with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders, and more. Those seeking help can call Gaudenzia’s 24/7 Treatment and Referral HelpLine at 833-976-HELP (4357). For more information, visit www.Gaudenzia.org.
