U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., recently announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded the Martinsburg Initiative funds through Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) to help support its mission to fight the opioid crisis.
Four funding awards from the HHS were presented to help the recipients get health care equipment upgrades and provide services to at-risk youths. As members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Capito and Manchin hope to continue working hard to help people throughout the state.
“I’ve seen firsthand the good work done by the Martinsburg Initiative and by Game Changers,” Capito said in a press release. “As ranking member of the Labor–HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, I will continue to work with local leaders to prioritize West Virginians, especially our youth and those in our most rural areas, getting access to the care they need and deserve.”
These awards will be used to replace health care equipment and fund projects that are helping at-risk youths. Manchin shared in a press release that he believes it’s important to support programs as they strive to help the next generation.
“West Virginia’s young people are our future, and we must prioritize programs that support and protect them,” Manchin said in a press release. “This investment from HHS will bolster ongoing initiatives that provide behavioral health support and education services around the dangers of substance use. It will also provide needed support to children who have been harmed by the drug epidemic.”
The Martinsburg Initiative will receive $499,991 to help prevent substance use and create stronger families. Jennifer Burroughs, social worker at the Martinsburg Initiative, shared that the money will be used to support the organization’s 11 social workers as they help close to 300 children throughout the upcoming year.
“This means everything to us, the staff, but most importantly, to the families we support,” Burroughs said. “We are a 100% grant-funded program, so the funds we receive from the Congressionally Directed Spending is a huge support for the Martinsburg Initiative.”
In addition to the Martinsburg Initiative, Broaddus Hospital, in Philippi, will receive $529,000, the Gilmer County Commission will receive $157,000, and West Virginia Game Changers, in Fairmont, will receive $50,000.