Funds Support Healthy Living, Fentanyl Education
Rockbridge Area Community Services recently announced two new grant awards from Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth: Healthy Communities Action Team and Dangers of Fentanyl.
These grants will strengthen local efforts to enhance the health of area youth, promote healthy decision-making, and prevent substance use among young people in the Rockbridge area.
The HCAT (Healthy Communities Action Team) grant provides funding in the amount of $120,000 over a three-year grant period beginning July 1. This grant will continue to support the Live Healthy Rockbridge Kids (LHRK) coalition, a community collaboration going into its 10th year.
The grant funds make it possible for LHRK to continue increasing access to healthy foods, nutrition education, and physical activities as well as providing information to families about area resources. This grant emphasizes community partnerships and local solutions to create long-term, sustainable improvements in youth well-being by creating a healthier, more connected community.
The Dangers of Fentanyl grant is $4,000 and runs from Jan. 1, 2026, to Sept. 1. This funding is dedicated to educating high school students about the dangers of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. These drugs continue to pose a significant health risk to communities across Virginia, particularly when they are introduced into pressed, fake prescription pills and sold illegally. The inschool presentations will equip students and staff with up-to-date information and practical prevention strategies.
“These grants allow us to address some of the most important issues facing our area youth today,” said Rebecca Bland, RACS Prevention Services program manager. “With the support of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, Rockbridge Area Community Services can expand the reach of our prevention efforts and our ability to provide quality education, vital information and resources to our youth and their families.”
RACS will continue collaborating with local schools, law enforcement, health care providers, and numerous other community organizations to ensure the success of both grant initiatives and to maximize their impact throughout the Rockbridge area by delivering responsive education, outreach, and prevention efforts designed to meet the unique needs of the Rockbridge area.
For more information about Rockbridge Area Community Services and its prevention programs, contact the prevention team at [email protected] or (540) 463-3141.
