JFS Awarded $118K to Support Families Affected by Opioid Epidemic

Every 22 hours, on average, someone in Delaware dies of an overdose.
Saving lives, getting people into housing, changing perceptions, and providing critical secondary supports are still challenges, years into the opioid crisis.

Thursday, January 16, 2020, Jewish Family Services was among eight organizations  involved in combating the epidemic which received a share of more than $1 million from Highmark Delaware Blue Cross Blue Shield’s donor-advised fund, BluePrints for the Community. Specifically, JFS was awarded a $118,000 grant from BluePrints to provide therapeutic and supportive interventions to address the needs of family members and loved ones affected by the various emotions, stigma, and hardships of loving an addict. 

“Highmark Delaware is enthusiastic about the Jewish Family Services focus on family,” said Nick Moriello, president, Highmark Delaware. “Meeting the needs of those struggling with a substance disorder are critical, and addressing the hardships experienced by the family and loved ones who are supporting those individuals is also key to combating this issue.”

BluePrints for the Community is a donor-advised fund at the Delaware Community Foundation. It was established in 2007 to serve the healthcare needs of Delaware, with emphasis on, but not limited to, the needs of the uninsured and underserved, as well as health care disparities in minority communities. Highmark Delaware has committed to over $1.1 million to support local organizations in our statewide work to combat opioid abuse and its negative impact on the lives of our friends and family members.

 

About Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware:
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware serves approximately 460,000 members through the company’s health care benefits business. It is an influential company in the market generating an economic impact of $135 million and supporting more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs across the state. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.