Simsbury mother founds nonprofit after losing son to overdose

Good News Notes: “Mother’s Day is just a few hours away and while many will spend the day celebrating their moms and other motherly figures. One local mom is making a change by channeling her grief into a nonprofit geared to helping those struggling with substance abuse after losing her eldest son. Lisa Gray is…

Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Ehancement Reduces Opioid Misuse and Chronic Pain

Good News Notes: “Guidelines recommend treating individuals living with chronic pain who also have a history of opioid misuse with nonopioid therapies. Mindfulness-based interventions are an option, but the efficacy of these practices haven’t been determined for this population. Investigators decided to address this gap by evaluating the impact of mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement (MORE) for the reduction…

A local nonprofit is planning transitional homes in Joplin

Good News Notes: “A nonprofit is getting help from the community to get up and running. Vita Nova Village is raising funds to build several transitional homes. “Vita Nova Village was born out of the idea of creating something to provide the next step to homeless people once they were ready to leave the shelters,”…

Northam awards $8.2 million to combat homelessness in Virginia

Good News Notes: “Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Friday that he has awarded more than $8.2 million in grants for 46 projects throughout the commonwealth. “We have made historic investments in the Virginia Housing Trust Fund at a time when the importance of affordable housing has never been more evident,” Northam said in a statement….

WOMAN volunteers bringing garden to Shelterhouse

Good News Notes: “Over the past year, Women of Michigan Action Network (WOMAN) volunteers have been busy with funding, planting, and maintaining a new perennial garden at Shelterhouse. Alison Baldree, director of fund development at Shelterhouse, has praise for the new garden: “When survivors come in for counseling sessions, bring their children in for therapy,…

France offers state-funded therapy, tackles mental health

Good News Notes: “Treatment for psychological problems will be funded by France‘s government starting next year, the president announced Tuesday, amid growing awareness and concern about mental health. State health care systems in Britain, Germany and some other countries already fund therapy sessions. French health professionals say a national effort to improve access is long overdue, especially as the coronavirus pandemic…