MEDIA CONTACT: Stephany Dugan - ra-dapressoffice@pa.gov
Pittsburgh, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) announced today that Acting Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones was honored by Three Rivers Youth as a recipient of the Nellie Leadership Award for her contributions to the drug and alcohol field.
Three River Youth (TRY) was founded in 1880 and provides programs and services designed to help youth, adults, and families who are at risk of developing a substance use disorder (SUD), experiencing homelessness, unemployment, and other hardships. TRY’s mission includes combatting those hardships, enhancing educational opportunities, and building life skills for youth and families they serve.
“It is truly an honor to be recognized by Three Rivers Youth – an organization whose mission is very near and dear to my heart,” said Davis-Jones. “As the leader of DDAP, this award has a profound effect on me and the work that my department does every day to serve historically underrepresented and vulnerable Pennsylvanians.”
Annually, TRY provides behavioral health, SUD services in prevention, intervention, treatment, assessments, outreach, and recovery supports, foster care, in-home family preservation and homelessness programs and services to over 5,500 youth, adults, and families.
The Nellie Leadership Award was presented to Dr. Davis-Jones at TRY’s 2023 Nellie Leadership Awards Gala on May 19.
Under Governor Josh Shapiro’s leadership, Dr. Davis-Jones is placing continued focus on improving and expanding access to high-quality SUD treatment and recovery programs, while implementing evidenced-based and data-driven prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery strategies as part of a multidisciplinary approach to tackling the overdose crisis.
This multidisciplinary approach can be seen through her accomplishments since assuming the role of Acting Secretary. Since January, DDAP has awarded:
- nearly $9 million in grant funding to four Single County Authorities (SCAs) to establish or expand crisis stabilization services for individuals with co-occurring mental health and SUDs
- $4 million in grant funding for the establishment of regional recovery hubs to enhance resources for individuals in recovery and promote recovery within communities across Pennsylvania; and
- more than $6 million in grant funding for organizations to establish or expand SUD services, community outreach and education to underrepresented and underserved communities.
More information on Dr. Davis-Jones’ accomplishments in behavioral health and SUD services and be found on the DDAP website.
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Award photo available upon request to ra-dapressoffice@pa.gov.