VALLEY FORGE, Pa. –The AmerisourceBergen Foundation has presented more than 20 organizations with grants to support initiatives related to prescription drug safety and treatment services. As a part of the Foundation’s Opioid Resource Grant Program, these grants were reviewed by the two External Advisory Committees (EACs) and awarded to organizations committed to building health equity and access, supporting healthcare practitioners, and strengthening healthcare in underserved communities.

“Today’s health care challenges require collaboration from across the industry. At the AmerisourceBergen Foundation, we believe it’s our responsibility to expand access to quality healthcare and resources that support prescription drug safety in communities of need,” said Gina Clark, President of the AmerisourceBergen Foundation. “By partnering with organizations that have a deep reach and understanding of the local communities they serve, The Foundation is able to expand its impact across the country through research-based support services and educational programming.”

Several grants were given to organizations focused on providing diverse communities with targeted and culturally responsive opioid misuse prevention education and support programs. To further the Foundation’s efforts to reduce health disparities among communities of color and underserved populations, the initiatives chosen will develop and expand school-based prevention curriculums, wellness services, and post-treatment programs for at-risk populations. Selected organizations include:

• Amistades
• Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
• Clear Path for Veterans New England

The Foundation also awarded grants to organizations that provide consistent support for healthcare workers and medical providers to ensure they have the tools and training needed to serve their patients and communities. Funding from the Foundation will support educational programming for nurses, physicians and practitioners aimed at reducing chronic opioid use among surgical patients, addressing substance use disorder (SUD) in expectant women and first-time mothers, and training for community pharmacists to support individuals in recovery from Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Three examples of grant recipients who are focused on expanding educational opportunities for healthcare providers include:

• Health Care Improvement Foundation
• Nurse-Family Partnership
• University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

 Today, the fight against the opioid epidemic coincides with the new battle against COVID-19, with both having a devastating impact on underserved communities. As part of its commitment to making an impact in all 50 states, particularly in areas that lack adequate access to healthcare services, the Foundation expanded its national partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Sharing Solutions initiative. Sharing Solutions curates accessible prescription drug safety resources for employers and convened 20 events around the country in 2019. New funding will support online resources to help the employer community — including small to midsize business owners — address prescription drug misuse among their employees and families, establish best practices to mitigate the crisis, and increase employee and community engagement in a post-pandemic workplace.

This marks the Foundation’s fifth giving cycle through the Opioid Resource Grant Program, which launched in April 2018. The program builds on the ongoing responsibilities of the Foundation to support and advance ideas from innovative non-profit, grant-funded organizations. In an effort to redefine best practices in the fight against the opioid epidemic, the grant program underscores the importance of a multi-pronged approach to bolster prescription drug safety and mental health across communities nationwide. For more information about the AmerisourceBergen Foundation and its approach enhance prescription drug safety, please visit www.amerisourcebergenfoundation.org