Indianapolis, IN (December 2024)
Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana (VOA Ohio & Indiana) has been awarded a $2.8 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support its “Enriching Early Childhood Education: A Fresh Start” initiative. The funding will enable the nonprofit to implement a three-year plan aimed at transforming early childhood care for young children across the state of Indiana who are affected by their families’ substance use disorder.
The initiative will focus on delivering comprehensive educational, developmental, and enrichment services for infants and toddlers at its four Fresh Start Recovery Centers located in Indianapolis, Winchester, Evansville, and Columbus across the state. Fresh Start Recovery Center, a family-focused residential treatment program for women, mothers, and mothers-to-be with substance use disorder, focuses on strengthening families and fostering healthy birth outcomes.
The program allows mothers and children to stay together during treatment, a proven model that increases long-term recovery outcomes. The new “Enriching Early Childhood Education” initiative will build on this model by expanding educational and developmental services to benefit the children of mothers receiving treatment.
“We are deeply grateful to Lilly Endowment for its generous support of our work. This funding will make a lasting impact on children and families across Indiana, helping to create healthier, stronger futures for all.”
John R. von Arx III
President & CEO
Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana
About Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana
At Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana, we are dedicated to helping people achieve well-being by offering hope, restoring dignity, and transforming lives, to ensure communities thrive. For over 125 years, we have been uplifting individuals, families, and communities including veterans, homeless individuals and families, men and women returning home after incarceration, and those recovering and healing from addiction. Our work touches the mind, body, heart – and ultimately the spirit – of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services. To learn more about our work, visit www.voaohin.org
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