New Access Justice Initiative Will Work to Lower the Overdose Rate Among Black Women in Kentucky
Grant to Volunteers of America Mid-States from Kentucky Association of Health Plans comes on heels of new report that shows state overdoses down overall but up with Black Kentuckians
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Volunteers of America Mid-States (VOA) is pleased to announce a new grant of nearly $123,000 from Kentucky Association of Health Plans (KAHP) to fund the Access Justice initiative. This initiative aims to ensure that VOA's Freedom House is more accessible to Black women seeking substance use disorder (SUD) recovery services. The grant will support strategic goals to increase the number of Black women accessing recovery services at Freedom House and to raise the completion rate among this demographic.
According to state data released in early June, while overall overdose deaths in Kentucky have decreased, the number of Black Kentuckians dying from overdoses continues to rise. Additionally, the 2023 Maternal Mortality Review reported that Black women in Kentucky are dying at a rate twice that of White women with SUD as a contributing factor in 58% of statewide maternal deaths. This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for focused interventions to address the disparities faced by the Black community in accessing SUD treatment and recovery services.
Since 1993, VOA has operated Freedom House, a program specifically designed for pregnant and parenting women with SUD. Freedom House is the first program in Kentucky to receive certification from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and has become a national model for providing SUD treatment to this vulnerable population. The program allows all dependent children under the age of 17 to remain with their mother while she receives residential treatment, ensuring a comprehensive approach to recovery for both mothers and children.
"We are going to humbly evaluate our programming from top to bottom from a health equity and racial justice lens to see where we can enhance and improve our culture, staffing, training, processes, and policies,” said Jennifer Hancock, President and CEO of Volunteers of America Mid-States. "We want to make sure women feel safe and supported in accessing our program and also complete our program with success. We serve pregnant, postpartum, and parenting women, and we feel accountable to ensure we are playing a part in reducing the rate of overdose mortality among Black mothers."
The Access Justice initiative will work towards achieving its goals through a racial equity assessment of Louisville Freedom House programs. VOA selected Dr. Brandy Kelly Pryor and BKP Strategies to be the evaluator for Access Justice. Dr. Kelly Pryor’s focus is on the relationship of social determinants of health, policy, youth voice, and community development; especially as it concerns social policies that impact racial equity and well-being.
“We are honored to support VOA’s vision for racially equitable service improvements to reduce mortality for Black and Brown women due to SUD,” said Dr. Kelly Pryor. “Building on principles of healing justice, we will ensure a process that facilitates those most affected, leading us toward the best solutions for recovery and prevention. This effort will take time and involve critical self-reflection, yet the return will have an indelible impact on Kentucky and beyond.”
This assessment will identify gaps in care and opportunities for improvement, ensuring that substance use disorder recovery services are equitable and accessible for everyone who needs them. VOA will gather information through community conversations, focus groups, surveys, and assessments to develop a long-term plan for achieving these objectives.
"Recovery and prevention are a huge focus of our grantmaking," said Tom Stephens, President & CEO of KAHP. "We have helped launch a new Masters of Social Work at Morehead State, funded the expansion of primary care and behavioral health clinics in several cities, provided new tools to hospitals caring for opioid-exposed infants, and assisted in the launch of a program for bereaved children in public schools. While there has been significant progress, Kentucky must do more to reach the Black community. We believe VOA can find new avenues to do just that."
The joint efforts of Volunteers of America Mid-States and the Kentucky Association of Health Plans will pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable approach to SUD treatment and recovery services. By addressing the specific needs of Black women, the Access Justice initiative aims to reduce disparities and improve outcomes for this underserved population.
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About Kentucky Association of Health Plans
Kentucky Association of Health Plans is the trade organization representing the Kentucky health insurance community. KAHP is a leader on issues that strengthen the accessibility, value, and quality of health care in the Commonwealth. Members include Aetna, Anthem, CareSource, Humana, Passport Health Plan by Molina Healthcare, UnitedHealth Group and WellCare. For more information visit: www.kahp.org or follow @kyhealthplans on X.
About Volunteers of America Mid-States
Volunteers of America Mid-States operates 30 programs across Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Clark and Floyd Counties in Indiana. VOA serves individuals and families overcoming substance use disorder and homelessness, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, veterans in need of housing and many other individuals and families in need. Learn more at www.voamid.org and follow @voamid on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.