A new effort through Volunteers of America Mid-States aims to reduce the rate of overdose deaths among Black Kentuckians.The focus is on this demographic after 2023 data released around overdoses in Kentucky shows alarming disparities.In two statewide reports, the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet found overdose deaths are down nearly 10% since 2022, but the number of Black Kentuckians who died has increased.Meanwhile, the Kentucky Health Department's findings honed in on Black women. The group experiences maternal mortality at three times the rate of their white counterparts, but according to the report, in the commonwealth, drug use played a role in nearly 60% of those deaths.맥스카지노�When we saw data that came out of these two reports last year, we knew we could not stand silent on the sidelines and allow Black women to die from postpartum or overdose,맥스카지노� said Jennifer Hancock, president and CEO of Volunteers of America Mid-States.VOA맥스카지노�s solution to the problem is the new Access Justice initiative.Hancock says it will foster new strategies, increasing accessibility to the organization맥스카지노�s Freedom House prevention program for Black women and their children.VOA has already formed a committee of stakeholders and received funding from the Kentucky Association of Health Plans to hire a consultant.맥스카지노�Dr. Brandy Kelly Pryor is going to be our guide to help us understand better how we can improve our own processes, communicate to Black women that we want to serve them and they can be received in a supportive, compassionate, culturally competent, and culturally humble way by VOA,맥스카지노� said Hancock.Freedom House has a track record of success including babies born drug-free, moms reunited with children they lost through CPS, and mothers in long-term recovery securing permanent housing and living wage jobs.Through the expanded effort, Hancock wants this life-saving program to be attainable for Black women and health equity to be achieved in the process.맥스카지노�We feel accountable for getting results, so we're going to continue to push forward, study this issue, and we're going to take action to make sure we're closing these gaps,맥스카지노� she said.More information about Freedom House can be found here. VOA맥스카지노�s 24/7 intake hotline is (502) 635-4530.