MEDIA RELEASE

Gaudenzia, Inc. MEDIA CONTACT:

2930 DERRY STREET Jim Ingolio

HARRISBURG, PA 17111 Community Affairs Manager,

Harrisburg/Lancaster Region

www.gaudenzia.org (717) 579-3636 /

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Gaudenzia Receives Partnership for Better Health Grant for drug and alcohol treatment

(Harrisburg, PA – July 27, 2016) – Gaudenzia, Inc. is pleased to announce it has received a$100,000 grant from the Partnership for Better Health. The funds will enable Gaudenzia to expand detoxification and short-term residential rehabilitation for individuals impacted by the opioid epidemic that is devastating our local communities.

“This vital support will expand treatment options for people who are struggling with substance abuse,” said Paula Ruane, Gaudenzia’s central region director. “Our communities, our families, are reeling from the scourge of a national opiate epidemic that does not seem to abate. No community is immune. It is impacting the quality of life in our cities, suburbs and rural areas.”

This expansion project will allow Gaudenzia to offer urgent and important detox and rehab treatment services in a centralized locale in response to the opiate epidemic.

“When individuals and families struggling with opioid addiction say they’re ready for help, having high quality treatment programs like Gaudenzia’s readily available to serve them is a vital part of a comprehensive strategy,” said Becca Raley, executive director at Partnership for Better Health. “We also need stronger state and federal policies, fundamental changes in the prescribing practices of health professionals, more community education and proactive prevention strategies. Stemming the pipeline of people needing treatment is our ultimate goal.”

The Partnership for Better Health is a community foundation in Carlisle, Pennsylvania which identifies and addresses health care needs and policies, promotes responsible health practices and improves access to and delivery of health services.

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Photo caption:

Partnership for Better Health awarded Gaudenzia a grant to expand treatment options for people who are struggling with substance abuse. Pictured, from left, is Gaudenzia’s Central Region Director Paula Ruane accepting the presentation check from Doris Ditzler, senior director of grants, Partnership for Better Health.

Gaudenzia media release

7-27-2016

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ABOUT GAUDENZIA

Gaudenzia helps people affected by chemical dependency, mental illness and related conditions to achieve a better quality of life—allowing them to live drug-free, as productive and accountable individuals.

In 1968 Gaudenzia began as a single facility, established by business and community leaders, together with persons in recovery. Today, Gaudenzia operates 150 programs at 80 facilities. It is the largest non-profit provider of substance abuse treatment in Pennsylvania, admitting to treatment over 17,000 individuals annually. Gaudenzia offers a full spectrum of residential and outpatient treatment services, including specialized programs for pregnant and parenting mothers, adolescents and people suffering from mental illness simultaneous to substance abuse issues. Since its founding, it is estimated that Gaudenzia has helped more than 200,000 individuals.