An individual is pictured in profile
Programs / Education & Health Equity / Overdose Response Network

Engaging Community Leaders

An individual is pictured in profile

Engaging Community Leaders

Faith leaders are an important source of support and can influence community-level attitudes and practices. As such, they are a vital part of the solution to confronting the overdose crisis. The Clinton Foundation works to build networks of faith leaders representing different faith traditions, and equips them with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to organize community members, reduce stigma of addiction, and to fight substance use disorders in their communities.

Since the inception of the program, the Clinton Foundation has engaged faith leaders in nine cities: Houston, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Jacksonville, Florida; Atlanta, Athens and Savannah, Georgia; Los Angeles and San Francisco, California; and Jersey City, New Jersey to address the overdose crisis in their communities. Faith leaders have received training on opioids and overdose prevention, became certified in Mental Health First Aid, learned how to speak about substance use disorders from the pulpit, and developed comprehensive guides on local prevention, treatment, and recovery resources for their communities.

The Houston Resource Guide can be found here, the Little Rock Resource Guide can be found here, the Jacksonville Resource Guide can be found here, the Northeast Georgia Resource Guide can be found here, the Savannah Resource Guide can be found here, the Atlanta Resource guide can be found here, the Los Angeles Resource Guide can be found here, the San Francisco Resource Guide can be found here, and the Jersey City Guide can be found here.

Drug Take Back Day

Faith networks in Houston and Little Rock participated in the Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, raising the community’s awareness about the risks of prescription drug misuse and collecting over 1,100 pounds of unused or expired medications.

A group of individuals stand with a sign that says "Don't be the dealer"
A graphic promoting an event, which reads: "Bridging Faith and Science to Combat the Overdose Crisis. Live virtual event. Tuesday, May 4, 2021. 3-4 PM." It also includes logos of the Clinton Foundation, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the Center for Responsible Leadership.

“I have watched the growing toll of the opioid epidemic on members of my own community. Houses of worship are not impervious; indeed, they are poignant reminders that addiction is no respecter of persons based on religion, income, race, age, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.”

RABBI JONATHAN LUBLINER, JACKSONVILLE JEWISH CENTER, JACKSONVILLE, FL

“What I’ve learned the most here, and from this group, is seeing about recovery through other denominations, through other faith groups; how it’s looked at sometimes differently. That’s been very eye opening for me. Plus, this is a great experience to share with other faith groups: how to work on this together.”

REV. DR. JOANNA SEIBERT, ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, LITTLE ROCK, AR

“This process has been very enriching. It enabled me to have the skills to allow me to talk to the community members in a language they understand. To be able to relate to them at a down-to-earth level. Yes, I do have the scientific background, the religious background, but truly, the realistic language that everyone would need, is something I learned here.”

IMAM DR. BASEM HAMID, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF WASAT INSTITUTE, HOUSTON, TX