(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) — The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Office of the Arkansas Drug Director today announced five recipients who will split $2.5 million in federal grants to implement statewide faith-based treatment programs.

Through a partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), these funds will help make communities safer and healthier by allowing the grant recipients to offer treatment services with a faith-based curriculum.

“Faith based initiatives are key for recovery for persons in need in Arkansas,” said Arkansas Substance Abuse Treatment Director Deborah Motley-Bledsoe. “Treatment is effective, and we believe that this funding will change lives.”

These following awardees will each receive $500,000 grants: 

•    Better Community Development in Little Rock
•    SOZO Recovery Center in Jessieville
•    Safe Haven in Clarksville
•    Arkansas Recovery Ministries (ARM) 180 in DeWitt
•    Daughters of the Other Side in Higginson

Applicants were asked to describe the proposed faith-based treatment initiative to be implemented, and applications were reviewed and scored by an impartial group of evaluators and awarded to these five programs.  

Faith is the base of these programs’ treatment and recovery plans, with a goal to strengthen the spiritual foundation so that the patient can maintain their personal sobriety through residential services, faith services, education, prevention, harm reduction, recovery support, life skill development, employment readiness skills and both clinical and non-clinical services. 

“A faith-based treatment recovery center is like any other type of rehab center,” Motley-Bledsoe said. “The purpose is the same, helping people fight substance use disorder, but the approach is different.”

DHS and the Office of the State Drug Director thank all Federal, State, and local agency partners as well as the community organizations and public health providers who continue to support persons seeking recovery and share information to help people seek treatment.

To find more treatment information and locations near you, visit. https://artakeback.org/substance-abuse-treatment/
For more information and resources, visit https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/aging-adult-behavioral-health-services/samh-treatment/

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