RiverValley Behavioral Health has been awarded $253,169 through the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission to expand services for children and families affected by substance use in western Kentucky.
The two-year grant is part of nearly $34 million in statewide opioid settlement funding announced by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman.
The funding will support the Western Kentucky Alliance for Drug Endangered Children Expansion Project, which aims to identify children impacted by parental or caregiver substance use earlier and connect families with support services more quickly.
The initiative will serve Hancock, McLean, Ohio, and Union counties through partnerships among child welfare agencies, law enforcement, healthcare providers, schools, courts, and behavioral health organizations. Officials said the project is designed to improve communication among agencies, streamline referrals, and provide earlier intervention for children and families.
RiverValley Behavioral Health President and CEO Dr. Wanda Figueroa-Peralta said children exposed to substance use are often overlooked victims of the opioid crisis.
“This investment allows us to deepen collaboration across systems and respond earlier to the needs of children and families affected by substance use,” Figueroa-Peralta said. “Children exposed to substance use are often the unseen victims of the opioid epidemic. Through this initiative, we are strengthening our ability as a region to identify risk sooner, intervene more effectively, and provide families with the support they need to heal and thrive.”
RVBH has named Brooke Arnold, director of its Regional Prevention Center, to lead the project. Arnold will oversee regional collaboration efforts, support county Drug Endangered Children teams, coordinate training initiatives, and help strengthen local response systems.
“This funding supports our local communities in developing local solutions that protect and strengthen children and families impacted by substance use,” Arnold said. “By keeping children who represent our future at the forefront of this work, we can build safer, healthier, and more hopeful communities across Western Kentucky.”
According to RVBH, Arnold also serves as Kentucky’s point of contact for the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children and works with Drug Endangered Children alliances across the state.
The grant will fund trauma-informed training for professionals who work with children and families, expand care coordination and family support services, and increase access to prevention resources. Officials said the effort is focused on improving child safety and well-being while helping break cycles of substance use that can affect families across generations.
The funding comes from Kentucky’s share of a national opioid settlement valued at more than $1 billion. Under state law, half of Kentucky’s settlement funds are distributed directly to local governments, while the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission oversees the remainder through statewide grant programs.
