Gov. Justice announces $6.1 million in grant funding from U.S. DOJ to aid COVID-19 mitigation efforts, substance use treatment program

​CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice has provided $6,167,992 in grant funding to the State of West Virginia, both to aid in COVID-19 mitigation efforts and to bolster a community-based substance use treatment program.

Of the total amount, $4,292,447 has been awarded to the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation in the form of West Virginia Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) grant funds. These funds will be used by the DCR to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

These funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance and are administered by the West Virginia Division of Administrative Services, Justice and Community Services.

The remaining $1,875,545 has been awarded to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources in the form of West Virginia Statewide Implementation, Enhancement, and Evaluation Projects (STEEP) grant funds. These funds will be used to expand the West Virginia Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program.

The West Virginia LEAD Program diverts individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD) or a co-occurring disorder from the criminal justice system to community-based treatment and recovery services. 

These funds are also provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance and are administered by the West Virginia Division of Administrative Services, Justice and Community Services.