Charleston Leader

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito announced a funding award for Lily's Place in Huntington, West Virginia, provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The award, secured through a Congressionally Directed Spending request made by Capito for Fiscal Year 2024, aims to expand and enhance services at Lily's Place.

"Lily’s Place, which I have long-supported, does incredible work and touches countless lives supporting children and families in West Virginia," said Ranking Member Capito. She emphasized her ongoing commitment to supporting the organization through legislative efforts and collaboration with leaders.

Jodi Maiolo, Director of Program Development at Lily's Place, expressed gratitude for Senator Capito's support over the years. "Senator Capito's newest efforts to secure funding for Lily's Place enable us to implement holistic programming that focuses on more than just short-term treatment," Maiolo stated.

Since joining the U.S. Senate, Senator Capito has been an advocate for Lily’s Place. In 2017, she co-released a Governmental Accountability Office study on neonatal abstinence syndrome with then-Congressman Evan Jenkins. This study was the first federal examination of best practices for treating newborns exposed to opioids during pregnancy.

Senator Capito has also worked to raise awareness about Lily’s Place by inviting Trump administration officials to visit in 2017 and 2019. These visits included discussions on innovative solutions to combat the opioid epidemic in West Virginia.

The HRSA CDS award totals $1,085,000 and will be used to establish a community resource center providing comprehensive services that complement existing facilities at Lily's Place. The new center will focus on preventing long-term poor health outcomes by prioritizing family needs over individual care.