2025 Substance Abuse Recovery Grants Announced

The Community Foundation is pleased to announce six recipients of Substance Abuse Recovery Grants, totaling $135,000. These grants are dedicated to combating substance abuse in collaboration with the City of Huntington, County Commissioners, the Town of Warren and the County Health Department. The recipients were selected by a committee of individuals representing local government, law enforcement, health services and the recovery community.  

“These grants are so important because they meet people where they are, whether that’s in prevention, treatment or rebuilding their lives,” noted Amber Rensberger, Community Foundation Program Manager. “Every dollar is an investment in hope, healing and a stronger Huntington County.” 

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington County received $25,000 to implement Pathways to Prevention, an evidence-based substance use prevention program targeting 3rd–5th grade youth. The initiative will run throughout the fall, spring and summer sessions and serve approximately 150 elementary-aged youth annually across all three Club sites. Through the Botvin LifeSkills Training curriculum, youth will engage in weekly lessons designed to build personal and social competencies that help prevent the initiation of tobacco, alcohol and drug use.   

The program focuses on developing key skills such as decision-making, problem-solving, peer resistance and effective communication, laying a strong foundation for lifelong healthy choices. This early prevention model is grounded in research showing that building these competencies at a young age can significantly reduce risk factors associated with future substance misuse. By investing in prevention at this critical age, Pathways to Prevention will help build a healthier, more resilient generation of Huntington County youth. 

Community Care of Northeast Indiana received $3,000 to support program fees for three Huntington County women currently residing in the organization’s recovery home, Hannah’s House. Women at Hannah’s House enter a structured, 3-month recovery program designed to support their healing and personal growth. Funding will cover fees for essential services including safe and stable housing, nutritious meals, hygiene products, in-house recovery and life skills classes, drug testing and case management, transportation to medical, court and recovery-related appointments, and oversight by trained house management staff.  

Funding will subsidize weekly program fees for their first 6 weeks, giving participants the support they need to engage in recovery programs and build a solid foundation for lasting change. This support ensures equal access to comprehensive recovery programming and provides women the opportunity to heal, gain stability, and rebuild their lives without financial barriers. 

The Huntington County Sheriff’s Department was awarded $10,000 to cover supply costs for the Inmate Advocate program. The program plays a vital role in coordinating in-jail treatment, developing reentry plans and providing warm hand-offs to community-based recovery services. Core programming includes Moral Recognition Therapy, a cognitive-behavioral, evidence-based intervention shown to reduce recidivism in individuals with substance use disorders, as well as access to self-help groups such as NA, AA and CR. The program also connects individuals to recovery housing, mental health services and basic resources necessary for successful reintegration.  

Through the Inmate Advocate, GED program and recovery programming, Huntington County Jail aims to reduce recidivism, enhance recovery and employment outcomes and promote successful reintegration for individuals impacted by OUD and co-occurring disorders. 

New Life Ministries was awarded $12,000 to assist in costs required to provide one month of services at the organization’s four-phase transitional Men’s Life House and Women’s Life House programs. While these programs are not recovery-specific, New Life Ministries often serves individuals in recovery or who have a history of substance use and abuse. Funding will ensure that safe housing is provided to those in the program by covering utilities, providing food and necessities and completing building maintenance. Funds will help purchase materials to facilitate the mandatory, weekday classes that cover topics including goal setting, safe people, life recovery and more.  

Funds will also ensure proper staffing of the homes to create a safe and supportive environment for adults. Program residents build mentor relationships with staff through their recovery and self-growth journey. Most importantly, funds will provide a resource to adults in recovery by offering them a safe place to stay where they can learn to live a healthy lifestyle. 

Place of Grace was awarded $32,000 to support their Residential Recovery Programs, which provide comprehensive wrap-around services to individuals in recovery. Since 2017, Place of Grace has operated recovery residences designed to support long-term transformation through structure, stability and grace.  

The intensive in-home services Residential Recovery Program provides daily structured programming, including recovery-focused groups, Celebrate Recovery step studies, SMART Recovery, Seeking Safety, life skills development, financial literacy, spiritual formation, peer recovery services and regular 12-step meeting attendance. Place of Grace emphasizes connection to community as residents are expected to build support systems by engaging in church communities, outpatient counseling, employment or volunteer service and mentorship. These connections help ensure lasting recovery by equipping residents to develop relationships and resources that will remain with them beyond graduation.   

The organization’s social enterprise, Gracefully Gourmet, also provides job readiness training and a recovery-friendly workplace, helping residents build workforce skills in a supportive environment. This holistic and scalable approach ensures residents are not only recovering, but thriving.  

Huntington County Drug Court received $53,000 to support the program and the Drug Court Coordinator and Drug Court Probation Officer positions. These essential positions are responsible for the daily operation, supervision and effectiveness of the evidence-based program. Drug Court serves individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders who are involved in the criminal justice system. These individuals often face persistent barriers to treatment and successful reintegration, including trauma histories, housing instability, unemployment and limited access to care. 

Drug Court is a voluntary, 18–24-month, multi-phase treatment court-designed for moderate to high-risk individuals who have committed nonviolent Level 3–6 felonies and are diagnosed with a substance use disorder. Participants are assessed using the Indiana Risk Assessment System (IRAS) to determine criminogenic risk and referred to certified treatment providers for an ASAM assessment to develop individualized treatment plans. The program focuses on treatment, accountability and long-term recovery. With help of the grant, Drug Court will continue to support a trauma-informed, evidence-based response to addiction, mental health and criminal justice involvement with a goal of transforming lives, connecting individuals to treatment and strengthening the Huntington County community. 

The Foundation’s 2026 Substance Abuse Recovery Grant Cycle will open September 2, 2026. Non-profits, government entities, school corporations and anyone working with/for the recovery of those suffering from substance abuse are eligible to apply. Find more information on our Grants Page.