Concordia College, in partnership with the Aletheia House, recently received a three year, $900,000 grant to fund programming that will help prevent and reduce substance abuse and transmission of HIV/AIDS among at-risk populations.

The funds come from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. $300,000 will be given each year over the course of three years. Concordia is the only school in Alabama to receive this grant.

The Aletheia House is a community-based organization that has been providing substance abuse treatment and prevention services to low-income individuals, and the communities in which they live, since 1972.

Based out of Birmingham, it is one of Alabama’s largest providers of substance abuse treatment, substance abuse/HIV prevention, employment services and affordable housing.

Concordia and the Aletheia House will work together over next three years to help raise awareness for and prevent drug addiction and HIV/AIDS.

They hope to accomplish this by providing things such as counseling, HIV/AIDS screenings, and seminars that will inform the at-risk population in Selma of the dangers of substance abuse and sexually transmitted diseases.

Additionally, Concordia students will be able to serve as counselors after being trained by Aletheia House staff to help provide treatment to those suffering from substance abuse.