Latest news with #StrongerTogether
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mobile help for opioid overdoses rolls into south suburbs with aid of Cook County $1M grant
Family Guidance Centers offers medications to people meant to counteract the effects of opioid overdoses from a clinic. But whether it's access to transportation, child care needs or physical limitations, the nonprofit knows there are many people who need the lifesaving drugs but can't get to the clinic, said Ron Vlasaty, Family Guidance Centers' chief operating officer. With the help of a Cook County grant of nearly $1 million, Vlasaty and county officials celebrated the rollout of a van that will bring the medications to more than two dozen south suburbs. The program was announced Friday during a news conference outside the Posen Fire Department's headquarters, with the new van and another already in use by Family Guidance Centers parked outside. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said while opioid overdose fatalities are 'trending in the right direction,' the problem is still of major concern. 'This crisis is everywhere,' Preckwinkle said. 'This is a challenge we have all over the country, not just in Cook County.' With the rollout of the van, a refurbished ambulance, residents will no longer need to overcome transportation or access issues, she said. We are 'able to deliver the care and services right where they are,' Preckwinkle said. The van is equipped with a nurse, peer recovery support specialist and outreach staff to deliver care directly to communities most affected by the opioid crisis, according to the county. It carries methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone, FDA-approved medications for opioid and other drug overdoses. Family Guidance Centers' other van delivers naloxone, also known as Narcan, which can revive a person suffering an opioid overdose, Vlasaty said. Posen police Chief William Alexander said opioid overdoses are one of the most urgent challenges faced by first responders. 'We are losing far too many lives to addiction and senseless violence,' Alexander said. Preckwinkle said, with the rollout of the van, health care officials are working to operate in a backdrop of possible federal spending cuts that would help their efforts. The nearly $1 million grant to Family Guidance Centers comes from the county's allocation of federal American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 'We see at the federal level a discouraging and alarming willingness to cut health care services,' Preckwinkle said, vowing Cook County will continue to provide services to those in need. 'If someone needs help we want to make sure they get it,' she said. Deborah Sims, former Cook County commissioner for the 5th District, which includes many south suburbs, said 'this is a good day.' Sims said that in delivering health care, agencies 'always want people to come to us.' 'If we can take it to the community it's always better for us and better for the residents,' she said. The grant program is part of the county's Stronger Together initiative, a countywide effort focused on behavioral health equity, system coordination and the expansion of community-based care, according to the county. The county grant to Family Guidance Centers is spread over three years, and the mobile unit will operate Monday through Friday. Tom Nutter, chief behavioral health officer with the Cook County Office of Behavioral Health, said opioid addiction affects people from the very start, creating a dependency that requires increasing amounts of drugs. For those with addictions, Nutter said their day 'begins with how will I get the drug and how will I pay for it?' Nutter praised Family Guidance Centers for its work, saying they bring 'unquestionable dedication' to the job. The Cook County Office of Behavioral Health was established by the county in 2023 to address the behavioral health needs of county residents, particularly those from historically marginalized and underserved populations. Vlasaty said that the Family Guidance Centers operates 14 locations in Illinois, including eight in Cook County. He said the Harvey clinic takes in residents from many south suburbs, but people can't always get to that location. Vlasaty said the van will be able to go to patients' homes or central locations, such as village halls and police and fire stations, to distribute medications. He said the nonprofit already distributes naloxone, which can help revive someone suffering an opioid overdose, to south suburban police departments through a smaller van it purchased with help of a previous county grant. Family Guidance Centers also has a naloxone distribution point at Harvey's Pace bus station, established about a year ago. He said it needs to be refilled every couple of days and was done in conjunction with the county and Pace. Vlasaty said Family Guidance Centers will put up informational posters at municipal buildings, liquor stores, gas stations and food pantries 'and wherever people congregate' to publicize the new mobile unit. 'We need to get the word out to where people are at to let them know this is available,' he said.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Petition against Calderdale wind farm hits 10,000 signatures
Campaigners against proposals to build the largest onshore wind farm in England on a swathe of West Yorkshire moorland said their petition has hit its target of 10,000 group Stronger Together to Stop Calderdale Wind Farm said they were "delighted" that so many people have signed their petition to group wants to stop plans to build 41 turbines on land at Walshaw Moor near Hebden Energy Park, the company behind the development, said the farm would be capable of generating enough electricity to power about 250,000 homes a year. The firm recently started a non-statutory consultation over the proposals, after it reduced the number of turbines planned for the campaigners said they feared protected peatland would still be affected by the scheme, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Penny Price, a member of the campaign group, said that replacing the peatland with the turbines was "counterproductive". "It's an irreplaceable habitat so once you have destroyed peat, you've destroyed it for a thousand years," she said."Although what you see on the hill tops on the horizon are these fabulous massive turbines, there is a huge amount of infrastructure which has to go in for the development."All this infrastructure is very destructive to the peatland."Calderdale Energy Park previously said the scheme "presents a key opportunity to support the government's target to achieve at least 95% of low carbon energy generation by 2030".The firm said the project could reduce national CO2 emissions by approximately 354,000 tonnes each responds to all petitions that get more than 10,000 signatures. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Zawya
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Zawya
African Union formalizes Partnership with All-Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) through a Memorandum of Understanding
On Wednesday 29 th January 2025, the African Union (AU) ( and the All-Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) formalized its long-standing partnership in promoting Africa's creative and cultural industries, particularly in the field of music. This MoU aims to strengthen the already existing partnership since 2014 when AFRIMA launched its first Award ceremony that honours exceptional African musical talents and the promotion of African music at the international stages. Over the years our collaboration has achieved enormous success together, especially in implementing the Revised AU Plan of Action on Cultural and Creative Industries and upholding the principles of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance; organizing the 2020 "Stronger Together'' online concert for the COVID-19 Response Fund; and advocating for key AU initiatives towards Agenda 2063 as Africa's premier Intergovernmental Organization and Africa's premier music awards platform, respectively. H.E. Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, underscored that, with the signing of this MoU, the AUC and AFRIMA reaffirm their dedication to nurturing African musical talent, expanding opportunities for all artists, and leveraging music as a tool for integration, social cohesion and economic transformation. "This agreement signifies a new chapter in our collaboration, ensuring that African music continues to flourish, uplift communities, and contribute to the well-being of artists and the continent's development agenda." Amb. Cessouma stated. Mike Dada, President and Executive Producer of AFRIMA, expressed his enthusiasm for the renewed collaboration, extending appreciation to current and former AU Commissioners for their visionary leadership, overwhelming support and dedication to the course of Africa's creative industry. "This partnership represents a significant milestone and a great step forward in our shared mission to elevate African music and culture on the global stage. Looking forward to the continued growth of this partnership for the benefit of our continent.'' Mr. Dada indicated. A journey well walked. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU). For further information, please contact: Ms. Angela Martins Ag. Director Directorate of Social Development, Culture and Sport African Union Commission E-mail: MartinsA@ For media inquiries, please contact: Mr. King David Cartey Strategic Communication Expert Health, Humanitarian Affairs&Social Development African Union Commission E-mail: CarteyD@ Ms. Faith Adhiambo Ochiang Information and Communication Directorate African Union Commission E-mail: GamalK@ Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
