Meridian HealthCare Receives $137,000 in Funding to Strengthen Addiction Prevention, Treatment, Recovery, and Community Resilience Across Ohio
Youngstown, OH – Meridian HealthCare has been approved for $137,000 in grant funding from the OneOhio Recovery Foundation to support its efforts to address substance use disorders and strengthen prevention, treatment, recovery, and community resilience initiatives, Meridian’s President/CEO, Larry Moliterno, announced today.
With the grant award approved, Meridian HealthCare looks forward to finalizing its grant agreement and putting these funds to work in the community.
The grant from the OneOhio Recovery Foundation will go toward Meridian’s Re-Work: Building Skills, Stability, and Success Program, which will provide job-readiness training, career coaching, and barrier-reduction strategies to build confidence, skills, and long-term employment success for behavioral health patients.
“This new program is an evidence-informed initiative that strengthens recovery capital by positioning sustainable employment as central to long-term recovery,” said Moliterno.
The grant is part of a $45.7 million regional grant funding opportunity awarded by the OneOhio Recovery Foundation as part of its mission to strengthen addiction prevention, treatment, recovery, and community resilience across Ohio. This is the second round of regional grants distributed by the Foundation. The grant funding comes from 55 percent of the funds the state is receiving from the pharmaceutical industry as a consequence of its role in the national opioid epidemic.
The grant awarded to Meridian reflects the Foundation’s commitment to supporting organizations on the front lines of addressing substance use disorder. These investments strengthen community-driven prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts that help build healthier, more resilient communities across Ohio.
Meridian is an example of the dedicated, top-notch organizations working across Ohio every day to help individuals, families, and communities impacted by substance use disorder, said Alisha Nelson, Executive Director of the OneOhio Recovery Foundation.
“These new grant awards build on the momentum of our first cycle and represent another powerful opportunity for Ohioans to come together and create lasting change,” Nelson said. “With these investments, we can expand hope, strengthen recovery, and equip our local organizations on the frontlines with the tools they need to help more individuals and families heal.”
Grant recipients are selected through a rigorous, locally driven review process that prioritizes evidence-informed strategies to address substance use disorder. Regional volunteers, the OneOhio Expert Panel, and the Foundation’s Board of Directors work together to ensure funding decisions reflect community needs while maintaining transparency and accountability.
This second grant cycle builds on the success of the Foundation’s inaugural grant cycle, which awarded more than $45 million over 240 projects across Ohio. These investments supported a wide range of evidence-informed initiatives, including youth prevention programs, school-based mental health services, recovery housing, treatment expansion, post-overdose reach, and behavioral health workforce development.
A complete list of Regional Grant Cycle 2 recipients can be found here.
Organizations and groups interested in future funding opportunities can visit OneOhioFoundations.com/Grants to learn more and sign up to receive updates on upcoming grant cycles.
For more information about Meridian HealthCare’s services, visit www.meridianhealthcare.net.
About the OneOhio Recovery Foundation: The OneOhio Recovery Foundation is a private, non-profit foundation created under the leadership of Governor Mike DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost, and other state and local leaders, with the mission of advancing Ohio’s addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts now and into the future.
The Foundation is governed by a 29-member board from across Ohio and is funded by 55 percent of settlement funds that Ohio is receiving from the pharmaceutical industry as a consequence of its role in the national opioid epidemic. Funds support local efforts to prevent and combat addiction and are also invested to support those efforts for the long term.
About Meridian HealthCare: Since 1974, Meridian HealthCare has delivered a person-centered approach to care and treatment, understanding the importance of prevention, early intervention, care, and support. Finding what works best for everyone is the key to optimal health, and the continuum of care philosophy aligns perfectly with our mission. In addition to offering a comprehensive approach to addiction (that includes prevention, treatment, recovery support, housing, primary care, mental health, criminal justice services, and much more), we are also a trusted source for primary care, mental health services, chiropractic care, and acupuncture.
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