Community in Crisis receives grant from Horizon Foundation to fight opioid crisis

By CHARLIE ZAVALICK

BERNARDSVILLE – The non-profit Community in Crisis (CIC) organization has received a $25,000 grant from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey to fund creative therapy programs that help individuals and families impacted by opioid use disorder.

The grant is through its philanthropic arm, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey.

“This grant from Horizon will enable Community in Crisis to continue our important work to support individuals in recovery as they find themselves marginalized and socially isolated,” said Ken Musgrove, CIC director of recovery support. “Aside from the social benefits of creative therapy programs, they can also help to reverse the damage left behind by substance use disorder.

“These include therapeutic offerings such as art classes, adventure programming, horticulture and holistic programs like reiki and mindfulness, all of which provide the recovery community an opportunity to explore, understand and resolve issues in their own lives that they may not feel comfortable talking about in a regular conversation,” he added. “We are thrilled to partner with local organizations who can help us deliver a quality and impactful experience for this underserved population.”

“Horizon is pleased to support the important work being done by Community in Crisis to help the recovery community thrive,” said Jonathan R. Pearson, executive director of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. “These recovery support initiatives align with Horizon’s commitment to helping our members access the resources they need to manage their health.

“We are improving the health of the communities we serve by investing in programs that provide opportunities for everyone to achieve their best health and by supporting both the individual and their family.”

The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey is focused on making the state healthier by supporting non-profits that expand access to health care, remove barriers to good health and increase opportunities for everyone to achieve their best health, no matter who they are or where they live.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

For more information, visit HZNFoundation.org.

Based on Church Street in Bernardsville, CIC began in 2013 following the overdose deaths of two young adults in the Somerset Hills community.

A coalition of community agencies, organizations, schools, churches and concerned citizens, CIC offers bi-weekly support groups for families struggling with addiction, innovative educational opportunities in the school environment, medicine take-back days, town hall meetings, and more.

Additionally, Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy and the Horizon Foundation have partnered with CIC to produce and scale out an evidence-based community toolkit for implementation by communities across New Jersey.

For more information or to get involved, contact CIC at info@communityincrisis.org, or go to www.communityincrisis.org.