Board hears updates on grants: youth programs, $119,000 infrastructure grant and opioid-settlement funds

The health officer told the board the department has several grant applications and awards in progress. She said a Municipal Alliance grant application (administered through the Somerset County instrument for substance-use prevention) is pending, and "that grant is about $6,800." The department also applied for Youth Services Commission grants, including 'Hope Squad' and a 'Youth in Motion' program aimed at bicycle and pedestrian safety.

She said the department received a public-health infrastructure grant of about $119,000 that will be used to offset salaries and technology costs tied to accreditation work and to support evidence-based programming. The health officer also said the opioid-settlement account contains "a little over a $100,000," and that requests for that funding include police training, school assemblies for substance-use prevention, and support for Arrive Together and family-strengthening programs.