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Government-politics
Top StorySpotlight
McDowell EMS, 38 other agencies get slice of $10 million in state funding
From Staff Reports
Updated
McDowell County emergency medical services will receive funding out of a $10 million allotment from the state Rural Health Transformation program.
The funds are awarded by the Office of Emergency Medical Services for Mobile Integrated Health overseen by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Grants will be provided to county EMS agencies in Burke, Caldwell, Catawba and McDowell, among other counties, according to a news release from NCDHHS.
The funds are being focused on "strengthening the participating 39 county EMS workforces and expanding rural communities’ access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment and services beyond the initial 911 call."
Gov. Josh Stein said that "investing in our EMS workforce and expanding behavioral health services in the rural parts of the state will help North Carolinians get the care they need closer to home.”
N.C. Gov. Josh Stein speaks during the 41st Annual North
Carolina Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony on April 14 at Lawndale
Baptist Church in Greensboro.
Allison Lee Isley, Winston-Salem Journal
NCDHHS said that in 2021, rural North Carolinians experienced higher rates of both fatal drug overdoses and overdose-related emergency department visits compared to those rates for urban North Carolinians.
The awarded funds enable EMS agencies to address these trends by providing medication for opioid use disorder, supporting rapid follow-up care after overdose events, and connecting individuals to treatment and recovery services.
“EMS professionals are uniquely positioned at the intersection of emergency response and healthcare delivery, serving as a critical link in the continuum of care for rural communities,” said Tom Mitchell, chief of NCDHHS' Office of Emergency Medical Services.
TRAILS & TRAINS FESTIVAL PHOTOS
Family Beach Day at Lake James State Park
Beach access free for families
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Paddy's Creek beach access at Lake James.
THE NEWS HERALD
On Saturday, McDowell County's Barefoot Baby Foundation will hold a Family Beach Day at Lake James State Park.
Family Beach Day at Paddy's Creek swim area at Lake James State Park will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free event is designed to give families across McDowell County an opportunity to unplug, spend time together outdoors and enjoy a day of connection and fun, according to a news release from the nonprofit.
Activities throughout the day will include:
• Open beach play and music
• A kid's beach dance party (one in the morning for preschoolers and another one in the afternoon for all ages).
• A sandcastle competition. Participants can register between 10 to 10:30 a.m. the morning of the event and there will be a prize for the winner.
• Dinosaur fossil digging with Lake James State Park staff.
• A beach-themed activity with the McDowell Public Library staff.
• A guided family nature hike with Centro Unido Latino Americano to kick off their Vida Activa program.
• A community lunch and afternoon beach party.
Family Beach Day became possible after Barefoot Baby Foundation received a $1,200 small grant from the Rotary Club of Marion, according to the news release.
Through a partnership with Centro Unido, organizers are able to provide a free community lunch, and with support from Friends of Lake James State Park, beach entry fees are covered for participating families.Organizers received a sponsorship from Great Smiles Dentistry in Marion that allowed for the purchase of new waterproof speakers for the event, according to the news release.
"As a parent of three young children, I know how much a simple beach day can mean if I am committed to being present," said Alyssa Hughes, executive director of Barefoot Baby Foundation. "I hope that families from throughout McDowell County can come and enjoy a day without phones — a day where simple fun rules all. I have a feeling it is going to be the kickoff of summer, and I hope it helps families set the tone for a summer filled with memory-making outside. That's where the real impact comes in."
For more information, find the Family Day at the Beach Facebook event page: www.facebook.com/ share/1CtfsCTPt1
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