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Superior Health Foundation launches Proactive Grant Focus

MARQUETTE — The Superior Health Foundation has launched its 2017 Proactive Grant Focus process with the release of a Request for Proposals for projects positioned to make an impact on improving substance use prevention and treatment throughout the entire Upper Peninsula.

“Substance use issues are rising at an alarming rate here and across the country,” said Jim LaJoie, executive director of the Superior Health Foundation, in a news release. “The Superior Health Foundation recognizes the seriousness of an issue that many in medical circles are calling an epidemic. We believe strongly that we must find innovative approaches to address substance use prevention, treatment, services and awareness for the entire Upper Peninsula.”

The foundation recently completed its Request for Information to gather basic information on as many organizations as possible working on substance use awareness and services throughout the U.P.

“We held a roundtable discussion in early June in Marquette,” LaJoie said. “More than 50 health care professionals from across the U.P. attended and were actively engaged in a peer-to-peer analysis of needs and opportunities facing the U.P.”

After the responses to the RFP are received, the foundation will announce the award(s) at its Fall Grants Program, scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 18, at the Holiday Inn in Marquette. The foundation will award more than $250,000 in proactive grant funding in 2017 and is open to renewing matching grant funding in Year 2 for collaborative projects that demonstrate the need for additional funding.

The SHF is actively seeking support from other funders to help leverage grant dollars.

Thus far, the ME Davenport Foundation has committed $25,000 in year one support.

“We’re very hopeful other U.P. and state funders will see the value in joining us to help find solutions to address complex substance use issues that are destroying lives and hurting families,” LaJoie said.

The application deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18.

To submit an online response to the RFP, visit the SHF home page at www.superiorhealthfoundation.org. For more information, call 906-225-6914 or email shf@superiorhealthfoundation.org.

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