The Duke Energy Foundation on Monday awarded nine grants totaling $255,000 to programs that help Indiana communities grappling with mental health and substance abuse needs.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a rise in mental health and substance use disorders across Indiana,” said Duke Energy Indiana President Stan Pinegar. “I have personally heard from our community leaders that more needs to be done, and we’re joining the fight by supporting the critical work of organizations that are providing pathways to prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery services.”
The grants will support a wide range of initiatives to create and expand mental health and substance use services across the state. Locally, Hamilton County is the recipient of an $80,000 grant for a countywide behavioral health collaborative that focuses on prevention, early identification and intervention, crisis intervention, and short- and long-term treatment programs.
At its core, the plan prioritizes early detection to connect individuals with treatment options before the problem intensifies. If successful, the plan is designed to be replicated in communities across the state. The plan is supported by key leaders in the community, including elected officials in Hamilton County, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, and Westfield.
“Mental health and substance/alcohol abuse have been identified as some of the most pressing local health priorities,” said Tom Kilian, president of the Hamilton County Community Foundation. “As such, the Hamilton County Community Foundation, in partnership with Aspire and the Hamilton County Council, has been building a cross-sector coalition focused on expanding the availability and accessibility of behavioral health services for residents. We are grateful for Duke Energy’s support to develop a comprehensive mitigation plan for Hamilton County that will address prevention and early identification, as well as crisis intervention and long-term treatment plans to keep our communities healthy.”