MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia First Foundation is celebrating its third anniversary and has opened the Community Catalyst Grant window. Executive director Jonathan Board said the Community Catalyst Grant program will invest $9.87 million over three years in three target areas.
Grant applications must be received by June 30 at 12 p.m.
The foundation spent the first year establishing the governing board and structure; the grant process, to include scoring and evaluation; and the Regional Expert Panels that serve as local advisors. The past two years the foundation has focused on reviewing grant applications, making recommendations, and monitoring progress.
“About $40 million has gone out for close to 200 projects,” Board said. “Covering prevention, treatment, recovery, workforce development, youth services, and community-based solutions across the state, and we couldn’t be prouder of that work.”
When the foundation began organizing, the drug overdose fatality rate was beginning to fall, but drug problems on the street continued to fester. Over the last two years foundation grant cycles have continued as the overdose fatality rate has continued to plummet while the recovery community has slowly strengthened.
“Initially it was about stopping the bleeding, then it was about keeping the momentum going and making sure people had what they needed to continue and expand services,” Board said. “Now, we’re really focused on outcomes—we want to maybe stop using bandages and start using scalpels.”
The Community Catalyst Grant program is a commitment to long-term, outcomes-driven investments that support recovery communities across the state. The three-year funding framework requires a baseline development and system implementation in year one, documented demonstrated improvement in year two, and sustained improvements in the third year.
One area of priority is improving rehabilitation and prevention systems across West Virginia.
Preventing incarceration in some cases could serve the offender better in terms of treatment and save county jail expenses.
“The goal is to strengthen those response systems that divert individuals to appropriate treatment and support services, ultimately reducing long-term incarceration” Board said.
The foundation expects to receive funding requests for efforts to reduce substance use and abuse. Board said they would like to support efforts that prevent substance use disorder from taking root within the youngest residents in the state.
“Identify mostly adolescents at risk for substance abuse and intervene early,” Board said. “That’s the upstream effort we do with coordinated prevention, screening, treatment, and recovery services.”
Reducing recidivism is one of the most critical challenges in the state and top priority for the foundation. Structured, evidence-based reentry support programs have proven to be the most successful in communities.
“The goal of that target area is to strengthen the effectiveness of those programs in reducing recidivism and supporting successful reentry into the community,” Board said.