Everyone is invited to the inaugural Washington Parish Opioid Consortium Kick-Off Meeting, which will be held Thursday, July 11, at 9 a.m. at Pine First Baptist Church, located at 27043 Louisiana Highway 62.

Recently, Volunteers of America was awarded a HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program Planning Grant. This grant was prepared with the assistance of Our Lady of the Angels Hospital, Florida Parishes Human Services Authority and ADAPT. State Sen. Beth Mizell and State Rep. Malinda White also supported the grant.

Over the next 12 months, the Washington Parish Opioid Consortium will be implemented, and meetings will be held to obtain input from parish leaders, those in the healthcare community, school systems, law enforcement, faith-based community and the general public.

Based upon the input received from all parties, a Strategic Plan, a Workforce Plan and a Sustainability Plan will be written. Another grant will be written requesting funds to implement the program or programs identified in the plan that would best address the opioid crisis.

The Bogalusa Mayor’s Wellness Council and Bogalusa Strong support these efforts to address the opioid epidemic in the city and parish.

If your schedule allows, your attendance at this meeting would be appreciated.